[Human toll like receptor gene expression in human pulmonary granule epithelial cells and umbilical vein endothelial cells].

Objective: To determine whether human Toll like receptors (TLRs) genes are expressed in human lung granule epithelial cells and umbilical vein endothelial cells (UVECs).

Methods: Specific primers for TLR2 and TLR4 were designed and total RNAs were isolated from human monocyte cell line THP-1, human lung granule epithelial cell line SPC-A-1 and the primary culture of human UVECs. RT-PCR and Northern blotting with digoxin labeling were used for the detection of TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA expression.

Results: TLR4 mRNA expressed in the three types of cells mentioned above. TLR2 mRNA was detected in THP-1 and UVECs, but not in SPC-A-1 cells. By using DNA sequencing, the RT-PCR products were confirmed to be TLR2 and TLR4 cDNAs.

Conclusion: This study provided evidence indicating that Toll like receptor genes constitutively express not only in human monocytes but also in human larger vascular endothelial cells and pulmonary granule epithelial cells.