Abstract:

Objective To explore the roles of Toll-like receptor （TLR） 3, 7 and 9 in the pathogenesis of pityriasis rosea. Methods This study recruited 40 patients with pityriasis rosea and 40 normal human controls. Reverse transcription-PCR was carried out to detect the expressions of TLR3, 7 and 9 in peripheral blood lymphocytes of these subjects. Results The mRNA expressions of TLR3, 7 and 9 in peripheral blood lymphocytes were significantly higher in patients with pityriasis rosea than in the normal human controls（Z = 4.239, 3.745, 2.658, all P < 0.05）. There was a positive correlation between the expression of TLR3 and TLR7 （r = 0.574, P < 0.01） as well as between that of TLR3 and TLR9（r = 0.551, P < 0.01） in the patients, while there was no correlation between TLR7 and TLR9 expression in the patients or between the expressions of TLR3, TLR7 and TLR9 in the controls. Conclusion Virus infection might be involved in the pathogenesis of pityriasis rosea via TLR pathways.

Key words: RT-PCR