Toll-like receptors 3, 7, and 9 in Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma

APMIS. 2015 May;123(5):439-44. doi: 10.1111/apm.12366.

Abstract

Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) is a rare, benign tumor affecting adolescent males. The etiology of JNA as well as the causes determining the variable growth patterns of individual tumors remains unknown. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are part of the innate immune response to microbes; by recognition of distinct features, they link to induction of pro-inflammatory signaling pathways. We immunostained TLR 3, 7, and 9 in 27 JNA specimens of patients treated at the Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland, during the years 1970-2009.

Results: TLR 3, 7, and 9 expressions were found in stromal and endothelial cells of JNA, and their expression levels varied from negative to very strong positive. TLR 3 expression was found to have a significant correlation with the clinical stage of JNA.

Conclusions: The present results propose a putative role of TLRs in the growth process of JNA.

Keywords: Neoplasm; head and neck; immunohistochemistry; immunology; juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma; toll-like receptors; tumor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Angiofibroma / etiology
  • Angiofibroma / immunology*
  • Angiofibroma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / etiology
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Toll-Like Receptor 3 / metabolism*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7 / metabolism*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 9 / metabolism*

Substances

  • TLR3 protein, human
  • TLR7 protein, human
  • TLR9 protein, human
  • Toll-Like Receptor 3
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7
  • Toll-Like Receptor 9