Toll Like Receptors 4 and 2 Expression in the Bronchial Mucosa of Patients with Cystic Fibrosis

Abstract

Both TLR4 and TLR2 expression in the bronchial epithelium of patients with CF were significantly reduced compared with healthy control subjects. In contrast, the number of TLR4-positive neutrophils in the submucosa of patients with CF was higher than in control subjects. This may suggest that the loss of epithelial TLR expression may contribute to the impaired defense against LPS.