Estimation of TLR-4 and TLR-2 Serum Levels in UTI Patients with Some Risk Factors

Abstract

Background: Most people of all ages are susceptible to urinary tract infections (UTIs). Objectives: This study investigates the correlation between urinary tract infections and serum level of TLR-2 and TLR-4 compared to healthy individuals. Material and Methods: The study included 90 serum specimens 45 patients suspected with UTIs and 45 individuals as control group. Samples were collected between October 2022 and March 2023 from private clinics and two hospitals in Babylon Province. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) measured serum TLR-2 and TLR-4 levels. Results: In this study, Among the patients, there were 28 females (62.2%) and 17 males (37.8%), indicating a higher ratio of females to males; the highest incidence of urinary tract infection occurred in the age difference (12-31 years). The analysis shows signifying a statistically significant difference in smoking behavior between the two groups as well as, indicating a significant difference in BMI distribution, suggesting that overweight status may be more prevalent among UTI patients. The immunological results revealed that the concentrations of TLR2 and TLR4 in the serum of patients were higher compared to those in healthy controls. Conclusion: the findings suggest that TLR2 and TLR4, along with elevated serum levels of these markers, may contribute to individual susceptibility to urinary tract infections. Additionally, BMI is identified as a contributing risk factor.

Keywords: UTIs; TLR-4; TLR-2, ELISA, innate immunity.