Abstract: Objective To clarify whether testicular receptor 4(TR4) protein and cluster of differentiation 36(CD36) protein are involved in the formation of tracheobronchial mucosal lesions of tracheobronchial tuberculosis (TBTB). Methods Tissues of tracheobronchial mucosal lesions of TBTB patients were collected and divided into 2 groups: active stage group and inactive stage group. The normal bronchial mucosa tissues were collected as control group. The expressions of TR4 and CD36 in 3 groups were detected by immune histochemistry and Western blot. The percentages of macrophage and foamy macrophage was detected by flow cytometry. Results The expression level of TR4 was as follows: active stage ＞ inactive stage and control group(P＜0.01). The expression level of CD36 was as follows: active stage ＞ control group ＞ inactive stage(P＜0.05). The percentages of macrophage and foamy macrophage were as follows: active stage ＞ inactive stage and control group(P＜0.05). Conclusions TR4 and CD36 seemed to play some roles in the formation of tracheobronchial mucosal lesions in active TBTB trachea the formation of foamy macrophage.

Key words: tracheobronchial tuberculosis, testicular receptor 4, cluster of differentiation 36, macrophage, foamy macrophage