Abstract
Bacterially derived ligands, Pam3 CSK4 and LPS, can directly impact adrenal glands steroidogenesis through microdomain-related
TLR1/2 and 4, respectively, and indirectly via immune cell-derived cytokines. The
bilateral immunoadrenal relationship plays an important role in the proper functioning
of both systems. CXC chemokine-dependent immune cell infiltration into adrenocortical
carcinomas (ACC), which correlates with poor prognosis, is a common phenomenon. Recently,
IL8 was identified in ACC and NCI-H295R cells, and was found to contribute to ACC
tumour growth. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of different TLR ligands
in IL8 production in NCI-H295R cells. This is the first study to demonstrate the expression
of several TLRs including TLR1, 3, 6, 7 and 9 in human adrenocortical cells by using
the RT-PCR approach. Only stimulation with TLR1/6 together with TLR2 ligands resulted
in IL8 peptide and mRNA induction in a dose and time-dependent manner. Our data suggest
that gram-positive bacteria-related TLR1/2/6 ligands might contribute to adrenal gland
tumorigenesis via IL8 production.
Key words
Bacterial ligands - CXC chemokines - NCI-H295R - TLR1/2 - tumorigenesis - microdomains
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Correspondence
S. R. Bornstein
Department of Medicine
Carl Gustav Carus Medical School
University of Technology
01307 Dresden
Germany
Phone: +49/351/458 66 06
Fax: +49/351/458 63 36
Email: stefan.bornstein@uniklinikum-dresden.de