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Assessment of TLR-2 concentration in tick-borne encephalitis and neuroborreliosis
Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska1, Paweł Penza2, Piotr Czupryna1
1Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University in Białystok , Białystok , Poland.
Abstract:
The aim of the study was to check whether measurement of TLR-2 in serum or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) can help differentiate between neuroborreliosis (NB) and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). Eighty patients with meningitis and meningoencephalitis were divided into two groups: Group I - patients with NB (n = 40) and Group II - patients with TBE (n = 40). Diagnosis was based on the clinical picture, CSF examination and presence of specific antibodies in serum and CSF. The control group (CG) consisted of healthy blood donors (n = 25) and patients in whom inflammatory process in central nervous system was excluded (n = 25). Concentration of TLR-2 was measured using a commercial kit [TLR-2 Elisa Kit (EIAab, China)]. The serum and CSF TLR-2 concentration of NB patients was significantly higher than in CG. The serum and CSF TLR-2 concentration in TBE patients was significantly higher than in the CG. Receiver operating characteristic analysis of the serum TLR-2 concentration showed significant differences between the group of patients with NB and a group of patients with TBE. TLR-2 is involved in the development of inflammatory process in the CNS caused by both tick-borne pathogens: viral and bacterial as TLR-2 concentration in both CSF and serum differentiates these groups from healthy patients. Although TLR-2 cannot be used as a sole and reliable biomarker differentiating NB from TBE, results of our study are a step forward toward discovering such biomarker in the future.
Insights
Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR-2) levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were elevated in neuroborreliosis (NB) and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) patients compared to controls. While TLR-2 can differentiate these conditions from healthy individuals, it cannot solely distinguish NB from TBE.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Neuroborreliosis (NB) and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) are serious central nervous system (CNS) infections.
- Differentiating between NB and TBE can be challenging, necessitating reliable diagnostic biomarkers.
- Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR-2) is implicated in inflammatory responses to various pathogens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) TLR-2 measurements in distinguishing NB from TBE.
- To assess TLR-2 levels in patients with NB and TBE compared to healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Eighty patients with meningitis/meningoencephalitis were classified into NB (n=40) and TBE (n=40) groups.
- A control group (n=50) included healthy donors and patients without CNS inflammation.
- Serum and CSF TLR-2 concentrations were quantified using a commercial ELISA kit.
Main Results:
- Serum and CSF TLR-2 concentrations were significantly elevated in both NB and TBE patient groups compared to controls.
- Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis indicated significant differences in serum TLR-2 levels between NB and TBE patients.
- TLR-2 levels in CSF and serum differentiated infected patients from healthy individuals.
Conclusions:
- TLR-2 plays a role in the CNS inflammatory processes triggered by both bacterial (NB) and viral (TBE) tick-borne pathogens.
- While TLR-2 levels can distinguish NB and TBE patients from healthy controls, TLR-2 alone is not a definitive biomarker for differentiating NB from TBE.
- Further research is warranted to identify reliable biomarkers for distinguishing between NB and TBE.
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