Fig. 4.

Expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 in peripheral CD14⁺ cells in healthy controls and in patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) during different phases of clinical activity. Inactive IgAN: 15 patients presenting with proteinuria < 0·5 g/ 1·73 m²/day and microscopic haematuria 0 or 1+ at dipstick (range 0 to 3+) in the morning urine sample. Very active IgAN: 19 patients with proteinuria > 1 g/1·73m²/day in association with severe microscopic haematuria (2 or 3+ at dipstick). (a) Mean fluorescence intensity (log MFI) of surface TLR-4 staining for CD14⁺ cells. (b) Semiquantitative analysis of TLR-4 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.