TLR7 expression was determined by real-time RT-PCR using adipose tissue samples from 22 obese (BMI=34.13 ± 2.81 kg/m2), 18 overweight (BMI=28.26 ± 1.20 kg/m2), and 9 lean (BMI=22.61 ± 2.40 kg/m2) subjects. TLR7 expression was analyzed for association with local (adipose tissue IL-18 expression) as well as systemic (plasma C-reactive protein levels) inflammatory markers. The data show that TLR7 expression correlated positively with (A) IL-18 (r=0.53 P=0.0001) and (B) C-reactive protein levels (r=0.44 P=0.008). Notably, due to missing plasma C-reactive protein data, 14 patients had to be excluded from TLR7 correlation analysis with this inflammatory marker.
