Fibroblasts are responsible for the synthesis and degradation of various connective tissue components and soluble mediators of extracellular matrix metabolism. Few studies have been conducted concerning the expression of toll-like receptors (TLRs) in fibroblasts until now. This study aimed first to determine the quantitative expression of TLRs 1 to 10 in human skin fibroblasts and secondarily to explore any influence of expression by histamine, which is a well-known factor engaged in dermal inflammation. It was found that all 10 TLRs were expressed in fibroblasts. Interestingly, the expression of TLRs 4, 5, and 10 was increased after 2 and 6 hours of histamine treatment during culture. However, the expression of TLRs 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9 was decreased after 6 hours of histamine treatment. Among the TLRs with a decreasing expression pattern, TLRs 7 and 8 showed a persistent tendency to decrease. All of these changes in TLR expression with histamine treatment were antagonized by treatment with diphenhydramine, a well-known antihistamine. Thus, these results suggest a role of histamine in the early phase of the dermal inflammatory reaction mediated by TLRs.
Keywords: Fibroblast; Histamine; Skin; Toll-like receptor.