【Abstract】Objective To observe the synthesis of TLR2 protein and its mRNA expression in Kupffer cells (KCs) and sinusoidal endothelial cells(SECs).Methods Thirty-two BALB/c mice divided into two groups (operation group and false operation group) were used to prepare the model of partial hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. After injury KCs and SECs were isolated with twosteps situ perfusion technique. And these cells were dyed by rat anti-mouse TLR2 IgG and anti-rat IgG2b labeled with flurescein isothiocyanate (FITC). The sysnthesis of TLR2 protein were determined by flow cytometric (FCM) analysis and real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (Real-Time RT-PCR) analysis for gene expression.Results As for KCs: TLR2 expression was significant higher in operation group, compared with false operation group 〔protein expression: （9.19±1.07）% vs （1.52±0.21）%, P＜0.01; gene expression: 0.54±0.77 vs 2.62±2.19, P＜0.05〕. But there were no significant differences with expression in SECs. Conclusion Synthesis of TLR2 protein and its gene expression increased in KCs in the mouse partial hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Objective To observe the effects of nitric oxide ( NO) inhalation on lung inflammation of acute lung injury ( ALI) in rats. Methods Twenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into four groups, ie. a normal control group, an ALI group, a 20 ppm NO inhalation group, and a 100 ppm NO inhalation group. ALI model was established by LPS instillation intratracheally and the control group was instilled with normal saline. Then they were ventilated with normal air or NO at different levels, and sacrificed 6 hours later. Pathological changes were evaluated by HE staining. The expression of TLR4 in lung tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. IL-6 level in lung homogenate was measured by ELISA. Results In the ALI group, the inflammation in bronchus and bronchioles was more apparently, and the expressions of TLR4and IL-6 were elevated significantly compared with the control group. 20 ppm NO inhalation significantly decreased the expression of TLR4 and IL-6, and alleviated the inflammation of ALI. However, 100 ppm NO inhalation did not change TLR4 expression and lung inflammation significantly, and increased IL-6 level.Conclusions Inhalation low level of NO( 20 ppm) can alleviate lung inflammation possibly by reducing theexpression of TLR4 and IL-6.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of microRNA (miR)-146a-3p on acute lung injury (ALI) and inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice.MethodsThirty-two BALB/c mice were randomly divided into sham group, ALI group, ALI+agomiR-negative control (NC) group, ALI+miR-146a-3p agonist (agomiR-146a-3p) group, with 8 mice in each group. The ALI model was established by instilling 5 mg/kg LPS into the lungs through the trachea, and the same amount of saline was instilled slowly in the sham group. The mice in the ALI+agomiR-146a-3p group/NC group were injected with 8 mg/kg agomiR-146a-3p or agomiR-NC respectively through the tail vein, once a day, for 3 days. The sham group and the model group were given the same amount of normal saline injection through the tail vein. After 24 hours, they were sacrificed and lung tissues were collected. The expressions of miR-146a-3p and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) mRNA in lung tissue were detected by RT-qPCR, the expression levels of TLR4, cleaved caspase-3, Bcl-2 related X protein (Bax), B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) protein in lung tissue were detected by Western blot. The changes of lung pathology were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The apoptosis of lung tissue was detected by TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling. The expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in lung tissue were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The dual luciferase reporting system verified the targeting relationship between miR-146a-3p and TLR4 in MRC-5 cells. MRC-5 cells were divided into control group, LPS group, LPS+miR-146a-3p mimic group, LPS+pcDNA3.1(pc)-TLR4 group, LPS+miR-146a-3p mimic+pc-TLR4 group. 100 nmol/L miR-146a-3p mimic and pc-TLR4 plasmids were transfected into MRC-5 cells separately or jointly for 24 hours, and then treated with 1000 ng/mL LPS or normal saline for 72 hours. The apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry. The expression levels of TLR4, cleaved caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 proteins were detected by Western blot. The levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were detected by ELISA.ResultsCompared with the ALI group, the expression of miR-146a-3p was up-regulated, the expressions of TLR4 mRNA and protein were down-regulated, the apoptotic rate was decreased, the expressions of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax protein was down-regulated, the expression of Bcl-2 protein was up-regulated, and the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in lung tissue were decreased in the lung tissues of the ALI+agomiR-146a-3p group (P<0.05). Dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-146a-3p regulates transcription by targeting TLR4 3’UTR sequence (P<0.05). Compared with the LPS group, the expression of TLR4 protein in MRC-5 cells of the LPS+miR-146a-3p mimic group was down-regulated, the apoptosis was reduced, the expressions of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax protein were down-regulated, and the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in lung tissue were decreased (P<0.05). Overexpression of TLR4 reversed the effect of miR-146a-3p mimic overexpression on LPS-induced apoptosis and inflammation of MRC-5 cells (P<0.05).ConclusionmiR-146a-3p alleviates LPS-induced ALI in mice by down-regulating TLR4.
Objective To investigate the protective effect of aprotinin on liver injury in septic rats and its mechanism. Methods Thirty male SPF rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, cecum ligation and puncture (CLP) group and aprotinin intervention group (10 rats in each group). The sham operation group was treated with cecal exploration, CLP group and aprotinin group were treated with CLP method to establish sepsis rat model. The rats in each group were sacrificed 24 hours after operation, and the morphological changes of liver tissue in rats were observed, the serum liver function indicators and inflammatory cytokines levels were detected, and the protein expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR4)/nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway in liver tissue was detected. ResultsIn the CLP group, septic rats exhibited significant inflammatory cell infiltration in hepatic tissue and disordered hepatocyte morphology. Compared with the CLP group, the aprotinin group exhibited nearly normal hepatocyte morphology with significant improvement in vacuolar degeneration. Compared with the sham operation group, the serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 were increased, and the expression of TLR4 and p-NF-κB protein in liver tissue was up-regulated in the CLP group (P<0.05). Compared with the CLP group, serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 were decreased, and the expression of TLR4 and p-NF-κB protein in liver tissue was decreased in the aprotinin group (P<0.05). ConclusionAprotinin may play a protective role against sepsis related liver injury by inhibiting TLR4 / NF-κB signaling axis, reducing the production of inflammatory factors and alleviating inflammatory reactions.
Objective To investigate changes of TLR2 mRNA expression in lung of a mouse model of Chlamydia Pneumoniae pneumonitis, and to explore the possible mechanism of signal transduction. Methods Ninety-six male C3H/HeJ mice were randomly divided into four groups as follows: a control group, a model group, a SB203580 intervened group, and a pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate( PDTC) intervened group. Chlamydia Pneumoniae pneumonitis was induced by intranasally inoculated with 4. 0 ×106 IFU/mL of C. Pneumoniae per mouse in the model group and two intervened groups. Then the intervened groups were intraperitoneally injected with the p38MAPK inhibitor SB203580 and nuclear factor kappa B ( NF-κB)inhibitor PDTC, respectively. Six mice in each group were randomly killed in 1st, 4th, 7th and 14th day. The expressional changes of TLR2 mRNA in the mice lung tissue were measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The concentrations of TNF-α in the lung homogenate were measured by ELISA. Results TLR2 mRNA expression in the lung tissue significantly increased after C. Pneumoniae infection, peaking at 4th and 7th days, then decreased after 14th day. Tumor necrosis factor-α( TNF-α) was also elevated in the lung tissue after C. Pneumoniae challenging. Both SB203580 and PDTC treatment effectively inhibited TNF-αand TLR2 mRNA expressions in lung. The inhibitory effect was more obvious by SB203580 treatment. Conclusion C. Pneumoniae can upregulate the expressions of TLR2 and TNF-α in lung, and TLR2/MAPK and TLR2 /NF-κB signal pathways may be involved in Chlamydia Pneumoniae pneumonitis.
Objective To verify tissue factor (TF)-bearing microparticle (TF-MP) could be released from Kupffer cells (KCs) stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and TF controlled by Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) could induce acute pancreatitis. Methods After the acute pancreatitis model completed, the wild type C57/BL6 mouse (WT group) and the TLR4-/- mouse (TLR4-/- group) received intraperitioneal injections of 10 mg/kg LPS. The degree of pathological lesion and the TF expression were detected in the pancreas tissue. The TF and TLR4 protein and mRNA expressions in the KCs were detected at 6, 12, and 24 h after the last injection of LPS. The survival rates were campared in these estabilshed acute pancreatitis model mice. The TF and TLR4 protein and mRNA expressions in the KCs stimulated with LPS (300 μg/L) were also detected at 0, 15, 30, 60, and 120 min. The TF and TF-MP levels were detected in the supernatants of the KCs at these time point. Results The injury of the pancreas in the TLR4-/- group was slighter than that in the WT group. The TF proteins in the liver and pancreas tissues of the TLR4-/- group were significantly lower than those of the WT group (P<0.05). The survival rate of the TLR4-/- group was significantly higher than that of the WT group under the situation of the acute pancreatitis (P<0.05). The TLR4 and TF protien and mRNA expressions of the KCs were significantly decreased in the TLR4-/- group as compared with the WT group at 30, 60, and 120 min (P<0.05). The levels of TF and TF-MP in the supernatant of the TLR4-/- group were significantly lower than those of the WT group at 30, 60, and 120 min (P<0.05). Conclusion Acute pancretitis can be induced by TF and TF-MP expressions in KCs which could be regulated by TLR4 pathway.
ObjectiveTo observe the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and inflammatory cytokines, leucocytic density and permeability in retina of diabetic rat. MethodsA total of 106 Brown Norway rats were randomly divided into experimental group and control group with 53 rats in each group. Diabetic model was established in experimental group by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin, and control rats received intraperitoneal injection of an equal volume of citric acid-sodium citrate buffer. Four weeks later, the retinas were collected for further analysis. TLR4 RNA and protein expression were measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), monocyte chemo-attractant protein-1 (MCP-1), were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in rat retina homogenate. Leukocyte density in the retina was measured by acridine orange fundus angiography. The retinal permeability was evaluated by Evans blue (EB) staining. ResultsTLR4 expression was significantly increased in diabetic rats of experimental group compared with non-diabetic rats of control group (F=1.606, 0.789; P < 0.05). Inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β and MCP-1) were significantly increased in retina of diabetic rats of experimental group versus non-diabetic rat of control group (F=24.622, 5.758, 4.829; P < 0.05). The retinal leukocyte density was (6.2±0.5)×10-5, (2.2±0.3)×10-5 cells/pixel2 in experimental and control group respectively, the difference was statistically significant (F=2.025, P < 0.05). The amount of retinal EB leakage was (23.41±4.47), (13.22±3.59) ng/mg in experimental and control group respectively, the difference was statistically significant (F=21.08, P < 0.05). ConclusionTLR4 and inflammatory cytokines expression, leucocytic density and permeability increased significantly in retina of diabetic rat.
Objective To explore the molecular mechanism of miR-515-5p in inhibiting chondrocyte apoptosis and alleviating inflammatory response in osteoarthritis (OA). Methods Human cartilage cell line C28/I2 was cultured in vitro and treated with 10 ng/mL interleukin 1β (IL-1β) for 24 hours to construct an in vitro OA model. C28/I2 cells were transfected with miR mimics, mimics negative control (NC), over expression (oe)-NC, and oe-Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), respectively, and then treated with 10 ng/mL IL-1β for 24 hours to establish OA model. Cell proliferation capacity was detected by cell counting kit 8 and 5-Ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine, cell apoptosis and cell cycle were detected by flow cytometry, and B-cell lymphoma 2 protion (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), cleaved-Caspase-3, TLR4, myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88), p65 and phosphorylated p65 (p-p65) protein expression levels were detected by Western blot. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect mRNA expression levels of miR-515-5p and TLR4, and ELISA was used to detect pro-inflammatory factor prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF -α), and IL-6 levels in cell supernatant. The potential binding sites between miR-515-5p and TLR4 were predicted by BiBiServ2 database, and the targeting relationship between miR-515-5p and TLR4 was verified by dual luciferase reporting assay. Results After the treatment of C28/I2 cells with IL-1β, the expressions of miR-515-5p and Bcl-2 protein and the proliferation ability of C28/I2 cells significantly reduced. The expression levels of Bax and cleaved-Caspase-3 protein, the levels of pro-inflammatory factors (PGE2, TNF-α, IL-6) in the supernatant of C28/I2 cells, and the apoptosis of C28/I2 cells significantly increased. In addition, the proportion of the cells at S phase and G2 phase decreased significantly, and the proportion of cells at G1 phase increased significantly, suggesting that the cell cycle was blocked after IL-1β treatment. After transfection with miR mimics, the expression level of miR-515-5p in the cells significantly up-regulated, partially reversing the apoptosis of OA chondrocytes induced by IL-1β, and alleviating the cycle arrest and inflammatory response of OA chondrocytes. After treating C28/I2 cells with IL-1β, the mRNA and protein levels of TLR4 significantly increased. Overexpression of miR-515-5p targeted inhibition of TLR4 expression and blocked activation of MyD88/nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway. Overexpression of TLR4 could partially reverse the effect of miR mimics on IL-1β-induced apoptosis and inflammation of OA chondrocytes. ConclusionmiR-515-5p negatively regulates the expression of TLR4, inhibits the activation of MyD88/NF-κB pathway and apoptosis of OA chondrocytes, and effectively alleviates the inflammatory response of the cells.
ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between TLR5 rs5744174 gene polymorphism and Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia.MethodsOne-hundred and six patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia admitted to this hospital from January 2014 to October 2018 were selected as an observation group, and 85 healthy subjects were selected as a control group during the same period. The clinical and pathological data of the subjects were collected, polymorphism of TLR5 rs5744174 gene was analyzed by PCR and sequencing, and the relationships between cell classification count, C-reactive protein (CRP) level in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and TLR5 rs5744174 gene polymorphism in the patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia were analyzed.ResultsThere were significant differences in age, smoking, alcoholism, diabetes and the other general data between the observation group and the control group (P<0.05). The distribution of TLR5 rs5744174 genotype in the observation group and the control group was in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium test level (χ2=16.89 for the observation group, χ2=10.76 for the control group, both P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the distribution frequency of TLR5 rs5744174 (C < T) genotype and allele between the two groups (P>0.05). There were significant differences in the proportion of diabetes mellitus among the three genotypes (CC, CT, TT) of the patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia (P<0.05). The percentage of neutrophils and CRP levels in BALF were significantly different (P<0.05).ConclusionThe polymorphism of TLR5 rs5744174 gene may not be related to the occurrence of Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia, but is related to the proportion of complicated diabetes mellitus, the percentage of neutrophils and the level of CRP in patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia, which may affect the degree of inflammation.
Objective To review the research progress of Toll-like receptors （TLRs） signaling and its effects in organ transplantation. Methods The structural and functional features of TLRs and their ligands were summarized，the literatures in recent years about the research progress of TLRs signaling in animal experiment and clinical organ transplantation were reviewed. Results TRLs played an important role in the organ transplantation，the activation of TLRs could activate the specific immune system，and contribute to ischemic reperfusion injury，acute and chronic allograft rejections，and induce the immune tolerance. Early treatment intervention could reduce the activation of TRLs through ischemic reperfusion injury in the organ transplantation，and improve the allograft survival. The efficient immunosuppressive drugs which aimed at the related immunosuppressive target in immune and its signal transduction pathway could reduce ischemic reperfusion injury in the organ transplantation and immune rejection. Conclusions TRLs signaling plays an important role in ischemic reperfusion injury，immune rejection，and immune regulation.