Association of a Toll-like receptor 1 polymorphism with heightened Th1 inflammatory responses and antibiotic-refractory Lyme arthritis.

Objective: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that alter immune function, inflammatory responses, and disease susceptibility have been identified in several genes encoding Toll-like receptors (TLRs). The TLR SNPs with the best evidence of an effect on immune function are those in TLR1 (1805GG), TLR2 (2258GA), and TLR5 (1174CT). This study was undertaken to assess the frequency and functional outcomes of these polymorphisms in patients with Lyme disease.

Burden and viability of Borrelia burgdorferi in skin and joints of patients with erythema migrans or lyme arthritis.

Objective: To determine the burden and viability of Borrelia burgdorferi in the skin and joints of patients with Lyme disease.

Methods: Standard and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques were used to detect B burgdorferi DNA in skin samples from 90 patients with erythema migrans (EM) and in synovial fluid (SF) from 63 patients with Lyme arthritis (LA) and in synovial tissue from 9 patients. Quantitative PCR determinations of B burgdorferi DNA, messenger RNA (mRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA) were made in 10 skin samples from EM patients and 11 SF samples from LA patients.

Relationship between immunity to Borrelia burgdorferi outer-surface protein A (OspA) and Lyme arthritis.

Antibiotic-refractory Lyme arthritis may result from Borrelia burgdorferi-induced autoimmunity in affected joints. Such patients usually have certain HLA-DRB1 molecules that bind an epitope of B. burgdorferi outer-surface protein A (OspA₁₆₃₋₁₇₅), and cellular and humoral immune responses to OspA are greater in patients with antibiotic-refractory arthritis than in those with antibiotic-responsive arthritis.

Borrelia burgdorferi stimulation of chemokine secretion by cells of monocyte lineage in patients with Lyme arthritis.

Introduction: Joint fluid in patients with Lyme arthritis often contains high levels of CCL4 and CCL2, which are chemoattractants for monocytes and some T cells, and CXCL9 and CXCL10, which are chemoattractants for CD4+ and CD8+ T effector cells. These chemokines are produced primarily by cells of monocyte lineage in TH1-type immune responses. Our goal was to begin to learn how infection with Borrelia burgdorferi leads to the secretion of these chemokines, using patient cell samples.

Treg cell numbers and function in patients with antibiotic-refractory or antibiotic-responsive Lyme arthritis.

Objective: In a murine model of antibiotic-refractory Lyme arthritis, the numbers of Treg cells are dramatically reduced. The aim of this study was to examine Treg cell numbers and function in patients with antibiotic-refractory Lyme arthritis.

Methods: CD4+ T cell subsets were enumerated in the peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) of 12 patients with antibiotic-refractory arthritis and 6 patients with antibiotic-responsive arthritis.