Expression of Toll-like receptor 4 in neonatal cord blood mononuclear cells in patients with preeclampsia

Summary The expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in neonatal cord blood mononuclear cells (MNCs) and serum TNF-α were investigated in order to explore the roles of TLR4 in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. The study enrolled 27 patients suffering from preeclampsia (experimental group) and 21 normal pregnancy patients (control group). After MNCs were separated, the expression of TLR4 mRNA and protein was detected by using real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting respectively, and the expression of TNF-α by using ELISA. The results showed the TLR4 mRNA level in cord blood MNCs (2 −ΔCT : 0.07±0.17), TLR4 protein expression level (absorbance ratio: 0.81%±0.15%) and TNF-α level (9.5±1.73 pg/mL) were all increased in experimental group as compared with control group with the differences being statistically significant ( P