Expression of Toll-like receptor4 (TLR4) in a sample of Iraqi women with Breast Cancer

Abstract

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is a key receptor involved in the innate immune response and has been implicated in various diseases, including cancer.  To assess the gene expression of TLR4 in women with breast cancer compared to healthy individuals. From the end of September 2022 to the beginning of August 2023, a total of 100 subjects, only women. It included seventy patients with breast cancer, divided into two groups: 35 untreated patients and 35 treated patients by chemotherapy were admitted to the Oncology Unit of Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital in Baghdad City, and 30 apparently healthy volunteers, whose ages similarly matched the patient group. To assess the concentration of TLR4 in sera, the ELISA technique was used, and for the estimation of transcript levels of TLR4 gene expression, blood samples were collected from each participant, and RNA extraction was performed. cDNA synthesis was carried out, and real-time PCR was utilized for the analysis.  The TLR4 serum concentration was found to be significantly lower in treated and untreated patients than in the control group, with mean values of 2.4777, 2.3269, and 3.5163, respectively. Also, both treated and untreated groups showed lower levels of TLR4 expression compared to healthy controls, with a significant difference between these groups.  The gene expression and serum concentration of TLR4 was lower in patient with breast cancer than healthy individuals.