Expression of Toll‐like receptors 2 and 4 on innate immunity cells modulated by cardiac surgical operation

Abstract

Objective. This study aimed to follow‐up on the changes in the expression of Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) on monocytes and granulocytes in venous blood of patients undergoing cardiac surgical operation. Material and methods. TLR2 and TLR4 expression on blood cells was determined by flow cytometry in 40 patients undergoing cardiac surgery performed either with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) (“on‐pump”) or without it (“off‐pump”). Results. Intensity of the expression of TLR2 on both monocytes and granulocytes, expressed as median fluorescence intensity, is significantly reduced during CPB, being lower in both groups at the finish of surgery. These changes are not so remarkable in the case of TLR4 expression. Compared to “on‐pump” patients, there is a higher relative number of TLR2⁺ granulocytes in “off‐pump” patients at the finish of surgery and of TLR4⁺ granulocytes on the first postoperative day. Conclusions. We found characteristic patterns in the expression of TLR2 and TLR4 on monocytes and granulocytes in venous blood of patients undergoing cardiac surgery with or without CPB.

• Cardiac surgery
• expression
• granulocyte
• monocytes
• TLR2
• TLR4

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic, project no. MSM0021620812, and by the Internal Grant Agency of Ministry of Health, Czech Republic, no. NR/9090‐4.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.