Expression of Toll-like Receptor 2 in Cultured Human Keratinocytes: The Effect of Bacterial Antigens, Cytokines and Calcium Concentration.

BACKGROUND Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are expressed by human epidermal keratinocytes and are involved in immune responses. OBJECTIVE The goal of this was to investigate the expression of TLR2 in response to bacterial antigens, cytokines, and different calcium concentrations. METHODS The expression of TLR2 was assessed after stimulation by lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and streptolysin O (SLO). In addition, TLR2 expression was evaluated after treatment with IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, and different concentrations of calcium. The expression levels of TLR2 mRNA and protein were studied using RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. RESULTS Cultured human epidermal keratinocytes constitutively expressed TLR2 and the expression was stimulated by LTA and SLO; in addition, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha upregulated TLR2 expression. However, the changes in TLR2 expression associated with the calcium concentrations were insignificant. CONCLUSION TLR2 expression increased with the concentration and duration of bacterial pathogens and this increase was amplified by several cytokines, from activated keratinocytes and other cells.