[Effect of Staphylococcus aureus on the expressions of TLR2, IL-1β, TNF-α and NF-κB in Bcap-37 cells].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) on the expressions of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α) and nuclear factor κB(NF-κB) in human breast cancer Bcap-37 cells in vitro. METHODS: At the different time points after Bcap-37 cells were challenged with S.aureus, the expressions of TLR2 mRNA and protein were respectively detected using RT-PCR and flow cytometry, the concentrations of IL-1β and TNF-α were examined by ELISA and NF-κB level by Western blotting. RESULTS: The mRNA and protein levels of TLR2 gradually increased in Bcap-37 cells since the stimulations of S.aureus and then dropped after the levels peaked at 4 and 6 hours, respectively (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the expressions of IL-1β and TNF-α was significantly elevated when Bcap-37 cells were exposed to S.aureus, and reached the maximal levels at 12 and 16 hours, respectively (P<0.05), and then IL-1β went down. Expression of NF-κB rose in a time-dependent manner after stimulated by S.aureus up to the maximum at 12 hours, and declined after 14 hours. CONCLUSION: In Bcap-37 cells, S.aureus exposure could up-regulate the expression of TLR2 at both mRNA and protein levels, increase the production of IL-1β and TNF-α, and stimulate the expression of NF-κB.