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. 2009 May 21;4(5):e5644. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0005644

Figure 2. In vivo and in vitro associations between endotoxin (LPS) levels and TLR4 mRNA expression in PBMCs.

Figure 2

(A) In samples obtained directly from HIV uninfected subjects, an inverse relationship between plasma LPS levels and TLR4 expression was apparent (R = −0.35, P = 0.053, Spearman Rank correlation). However, in HIV infected subjects no correlation or trend was seen (R = 0.029, P = 0.83). Additionally, plasma HIV RNA levels were positively associated with increased TLR4 mRNA levels (Spearman R = 0.3260, P = 0.049). (B) In a similar pattern, overnight culture with 0.1 ug/l LPS reduced TLR4 mRNA expression in PBMC of HIV uninfected (n = 70, P = 0.009), but not infected subjects (n = 21, P = 0.627). Isolated HIV ssRNA40 increased TLR4 mRNA expression in PBMC from HIV uninfected subjects (n = 70, P = 0.011), but not infected subjects (n = 21, P = 0.808). Spearman rank sum and Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used, two-tailed ns = not significant, t = trend(P<0.1),*P<0.05.