Correlation of the changes of TLR4/NF-κB pathway function in intrauterine adhesion tissue with the characteristics of cytokine secretion and collagen metabolism

Objective:To study the correlation of the changes of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) / nuclear factorκB (NF-κB) pathway function in intrauterine adhesion (IUAs) tissue with the characteristics of cytokine secretion and collagen metabolism.Methods:The patients with IUAs who were treated in our hospital between February 2015 and March 2018 were selected as the IUAs group, and the patients who underwent hysteroscopy due to infertility and were pathologically confirmed to have normal endometrium during the same period were selected as the control group. The expression levels of TLR4/NF-κB pathway molecules and collagen metabolism genes as well as the contents of cytokines and collagen metabolism markers in the adhesion tissues of IUAs group and the normal endometrial tissue of control group were measured.Results: TLR4, NF-κB, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 15 (ADAM15), ADAM17, matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) mRNA expression as well as transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), Smad2/3, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), periostin/osteoblast-specific factor 2 (Postn), type I collagen (Col-I) and actin-α (α-SMA) contents in the adhesion tissues of IUAs group were significantly higher than those of control group while urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) mRNA expression was significantly lower than that of control group;TLR4 and NF-κB mRNA expression were positively correlated with TGF-β1, Smad2/3, IGF-1, IGF-1R, bFGF, Postn, Col-I,α-SMA, ADAM15, ADAM17, MMP9 and PAI-1, and negatively correlated with uPA.Conclusion:The excessive activation of TLR4/NF-κB pathway in IUAs is associated with the cytokine secretion and collagen metabolism abnormalities.

Mechanism of Radix isatidis in influencing pulmonary inflammation in tuberculosis rats by TLR4-NF-κB pathway

Objective:To investigate the mechanism of the effects of Radix isatidis on lung inflammation in tuberculosis rats through TLR4-NF-κB pathway.Methods:Forty-five SD rats were randomly divided into three groups(n=15 in each group):control group,model group,and isatis root polysaccharide group.Through the tail vein injection of H37RV Mycobacterium tuberculosis model,the rats in the isatis root polysaccharide group received the intervention of Radix isatidis polysaccharides on the second day of infection.The serum inflammatory factors and the expression levels of TLR4-NF-κB pathway and inflammatory factors in lung tissue of each group were detected and compared.Results:A large number of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in the lung tissue of the model group,and clustered outside the cell.In the isatis root polysaccharide group,the CFU level was significantly lower compared with the model group,and the number of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was less than that of the model group(P<0.05),mainly distributed in tuberculous nodules and giant cells.The level of serum inflammatory factors in the model group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0.05).The levels of IL-1β,IL-6 and IFN-γin the serum of the isatis root polysaccharide group were significantly lower than those in the model group and significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).The TLR4-NF-κB pathway and inflammatory factor mRNA levels in the lung tissue of the model group were significantly higher than those of the control group(P<0.05).The levels of TLR4,NF-κB,IL-1β,IL-6 and IFN-γin the lung tissue of the isatis root polysaccharide group were significantly lower than those of the model group and significantly higher than those of the control group(P<0.05).The expression level of TLR4-NF-κB pathway was significantly up-regulated in the lung tissue of model rats(P<0.05).The levels of TLR4 and NF-κB in the lung tissue of the isatis root polysaccharide group were significantly lower than those of the model group and significantly higher than those of the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Radix isatidis can alleviate lung inflammation caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection by regulating TLR4-NF-κB pathway.

Modulating effects of Astragalus polysaccharide on immune disorders via gut microbiota and the TLR4/NF-κB pathway in rats with syndrome of dampness stagnancy due to spleen deficiency

The syndrome of dampness stagnancy due to spleen deficiency(DSSD)is relatively common globally.Although the pathogenesis of DSSD remains unclear,evidence has suggested that the gut microbiota might play a significant role.Radix Astragali,used as both medicine and food,exerts the effects of tonifying spleen and qi.Astragalus polysaccharide(APS)comprises a macromolecule substance extracted from the dried root of Radix Astragali,which has many pharmacological functions.However,whether APS mitigates the immune disorders underlying the DSSD syndrome via regulating gut microbiota and the relevant mechanism remains unknown.Here,we used DSSD rats induced by high-fat and low-protein(HFLP)diet plus exhaustive swimming,and found that APS of moderate molecular weight increased the body weight gain and immune organ indexes,decreased the levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β),IL-6,and endotoxin,and suppressed the Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB(TLR4/NF-κB)pathway.Moreover,a total of 27 critical genera were significantly enriched according to the linear discriminant analysis effect size(LEfSe).APS increased the diversity of the gut microbiota and changed its composition,such as reducing the relative abundance of Pseudoflavonifractor and Paraprevotella,and increasing that of Parasutterella,Parabacteroides,Clostridium XIVb,Oscillibacter,Butyricicoccus,and Dorea.APS also elevated the contents of short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs).Furthermore,the correlation analysis indicated that 12 critical bacteria were related to the body weight gain and immune organ indexes.In general,our study demonstrated that APS ameliorated the immune disorders in DSSD rats via modulating their gut microbiota,especially for some bacteria involving immune and inflammatory response and SCFA production,as well as the TLR4/NF-κB pathway.This study provides an insight into the function of APS as a unique potential prebiotic through exerting systemic activities in treating DSSD.

Expression and signifi cance of TLR4 and HIF-1α in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

AIM:To investigate the expression of toll-like receptor(TLR) 4,nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB) p65 and hypoxiainducible transcription factor 1α(HIF-1α) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and their clinical significance.METHODS:The mRNA of TLR4 and HIF-1α were investigated by real-time polymerase chain reaction in 30 cases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and its adjacent tissues,and expression of TLR4,NF-κB p65 and HIF-1α protein were detected by immunohistochemistry in 65 cases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tissues and 38 cases of corresponding adjacent tissues.The relationship between TLR4 or HIF-1α and pathologic features,as well as the association between TLR4 and HIF-1α,were also analyzed.Kaplan-Meier method was used to assess the impact of expression of TLR4 and HIF-1α on survival of patients with pancreatic cancer.RESULTS:The relative quantif ication of TLR4 and HIF-1α mRNA in tumor tissues was 0.81±0.10 and 0.87±0.11,respectively,signif icantly higher than that in adjacent tissues(0.81±0.10 vs 0.70±0.16,P=0.002;0.87±0.11 vs 0.68±0.13,P=0.000).The protein expression of TLR4,NF-κB p65 and HIF-1α in tumor tissues was 69.20%,66.15% and 70.80%,respectively,being signif icantly higher than that in adjacent normal tissues(69.20% vs 39.50%,P=0.003;66.15% vs 31.58%,P=0.001;70.80% vs 36.80%,P=0.001).There was no signif icant correlation between TLR4 or HIF-1α expression and the age,gender,tumor location,the degree of tumor differentiation in the patients(P>0.05).However,there was signif icant correlation between the expression of TLR4 or HIF-1α and tumor size,lymph node metastasis,venous invasion and clinical staging(P<0.05).The expression of TLR4 and HIF-1α had a signif icant impact on survival of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.CONCLUSION:TLR4,NF-κB p65 and HIF-1α are overexpressed in pancreatic adenocarcinoma,TLR4 may be partly involved in up-regulating HIF-1α,and both synergestically promote development of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Influence of Silencing TRAF6 with shRNA on LPS/TLR4 Signaling in vitro

This study investigated the influence of silencing TRAF6 with shRNA on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)/toll-like receptor(TLR)-4 signaling pathway in vitro.Four plasmids(pGCsi-TRAF6-shRNA1,2,3,4) containing different shRNA sequences were designed and synthesized.The proliferation of RAW264.7 cells after transfected with these plasmids was measured by MTT assay.Inflammatory cellular models were established by LPS stimulation.Levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and TGF-β1 in the supernatants,mRNA expressions of TRAF6,IL-6 and COX-2,protein expression of TRAF6 and translocation of NF-κB were assayed by ELISA,real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting,respectively.The results showed that the TRAF6 gene knockdown by RNAi hardly inhibited the proliferation of RAW264.7 cells within 72 h.The mRNA and protein expression of TRAF6 was lower in the TRAF6-shRNA1,2 groups than in the TRAF6-shRNA3,4 groups.Therefore,pGCsi-TRAF6-shRNA1,2 were selected for the subsequent experiments.Our results still showed that pGCsi-TRAF6-shRNA1,2 could significantly reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators including TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6 and COX-2,and inhibit NF-κB nuclear translocation.Moreover,pGCsi-TRAF6-shRNA1,2 could suppress the release of TGF-β1 at the protein level.It was concluded that the recombinant plasmid pTRAF6-shRNA can,to some extent,inhibit inflammatory response stimulated by LPS at the initial phase.TRAF6 may become the potential therapeutic target of many inflammation-related diseases.

Therapeutic Effect of Crocin on Diabetic Retinopathy in Rats Based on TLR4/My D88/NF-κB Pathway

Objective:To study the therapeutic effect of crocin on diabetic retinopathy(DR)in rats based on toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 88(My D88)/nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)pathway.Methods:Thirty SPF SD rats were used in the experiment,which were randomly divided into DR group,control group and crocin group,with 10 rats in each group.The DR rat model was established by feeding the rats in both the DR group and crocin group with a high glucose and high fat diet,along with intraperitoneal injection(IP)of streptozotocin.Crocin IP was administered to the rats in the crocin group,whereas the rats in the DR group and control group received an equivalent dosage of saline IP for 12 weeks.A comparison was made among the three groups regarding retinal thickness,vascular permeability,expression of TLR4/My D88/NF-κB pathway protein,levels of inflammatory factors,and levels of Bcl-2,Bax,and Bcl-2/Bax.Results:The DR group and crocins group exhibited a lower retinal thickness compared to the control group,while the crocins group displayed a higher thickness than the DR group.The DR group and crocins group had higher retinal vascular permeability than the control group,and the crocins group had lower retinal vascular permeability than the DR group(P<0.05).TLR4,My D88,and P-NF-κB relative expressions were higher in the DR and crocin groups than in the control group,whereas TLR4,My D88,and P-NF-κB relative expressions were lower in the crocin group than in the DR group(P<0.05).The DR group and crocin group exhibited elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines compared to the control group,while the crocin group displayed decreased levels in comparison to the DR group(P<0.05).The DR group and crocin group exhibited lower levels of Bcl-2 and Bcl-2/Bax compared to the control group,whereas the control group displayed higher levels of Bax.The crocin group exhibited elevated levels of Bcl-2 and Bcl-2/Bax compared to the DR group,whereas the DR group displayed diminished levels of Bax(P<0.05).Conclusion:Crocin has the potential to enhance the retinal thickness and vascular permeability of DR rats,and the inhibition of the TLR4/My D88/NF-κB pathway by crocin could play a crucial role in impeding the advancement of DR.

蠲痹历节清方对改良痛风性关节模型大鼠滑膜的TLR4,NF-κB,PPARγ的影响

目的：观察蠲痹历节清方对改良痛风性关节炎大鼠滑膜组织中Toll样受体4（Toll-like receptors 4,TLR4）,核转录因子kappa B（nuclear factor-kappa B,NF-κB）,过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体γ（peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγ,PPARγ）的影响,探讨蠲痹历节清方治疗急性痛风性关节炎局部组织炎症的可能作用机制。方法：将42只SD雄性大鼠,按随机数字表法选取6只为正常组,30只为造模组,造模组采用改良痛风性关节炎造模后随机分为模型组,蠲痹历节清方高、中、低剂量组（4 400,2 200,1 100 mg·kg^-1）,依托考昔组（11 mg·kg^-1）,吡格列酮组（20 mg·kg^-1）,每组6只。正常组及模型组的大鼠以生理盐水灌胃20 mL·kg^-1。每组每只大鼠每日灌胃给药2次,连续2 d后处死大鼠,取受试右踝关节,分离出滑膜组织,分为两部分,一部分用于病理形态学观察,一部分用逆转录聚合酶链式反应（RT-PCR）检测TLR4,NF-κB p65,PPARγmRNA的表达水平,蛋白质免疫印迹法（Western blot）检测TLR4,NF-κB p65,PPARγ蛋白表达水平。结果：与正常组比较,模型组中TLR4和NF-κB mRNA和蛋白表达显著升高（P〈0.01）,PPARγmRNA和蛋白表达升高（P〈0.05）;与模型组比较,吡格列酮组及蠲痹历节清方高、中、低剂量组TLR4和NF-κB mRNA和蛋白的表达显著降低（P〈0.01）,PPARγmRNA和蛋白的表达显著升高（P〈0.05）。结论：蠲痹历节清方可能通过上调PPARγ表达,抑制TLR4,NF-κB表达从而抑制急性痛风性关节炎局部组织炎症。

Catalpol ameliorates LPS-induced endometritis by inhibiting inflammation and TLR4/NF-κB signaling

Catalpol is the main active ingredient of an extract from Radix rehmanniae,which in a previous study showed a protective effect against various types of tissue injury.However,a protective effect of catalpol on uterine inflammation has not been reported.In this study,to investigate the protective mechanism of catalpol on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced bovine endometrial epithelial cells(bEECs)and mouse endometritis,in vitro and in vivo inflammation models were established.The Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)signaling pathway and its downstream inflammatory factors were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR),western blot(WB),and immunofluorescence techniques.The results from ELISA and qRT-PCR showed that catalpol dose-dependently reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factorα(TNF-α),interleukin(IL)-1β,and IL-6,and chemokines such as C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8(CXCL8)and CXCL5,both in bEECs and in uterine tissue.From the experimental results of WB,qRT-PCR,and immunofluorescence,the expression of TLR4 and the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 were markedly inhibited by catalpol compared with the LPS group.The inflammatory damage to the mouse uterus caused by LPS was greatly reduced and was accompanied by a decline in myeloperoxidase(MPO)activity.The results of this study suggest that catalpol can exert an anti-inflammatory impact on LPS-induced bEECs and mouse endometritis by inhibiting inflammation and activation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Intravenous infusion of mesenteric lymph from severe intraperitoneal infection rats causes lung injury in healthy rats

AIM: To investigate whether mesenteric lymph from rats with severe intraperitoneal infection (SII) induces lung injury in healthy rats.

San-Cao Granule (三草颗粒) Ameliorates Hepatic Fibrosis through High Mobility Group Box-1 Protein/Smad Signaling Pathway

Objective： To investigate the possible mechanism of San-Cao Granule（SCG, 三草颗粒） mediating antiliver fibrosis. Methods： A total of 60 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the normal control group, porcine serum-treated group, ursodesoxycholic acid（UDCA, 60 mg/kg）, SCG（3.6 g/kg） group, SCG（1.8 g/kg） group and SCG（0.9 g/kg） group, with 10 rats in each group. Liver fibrosis was induced with porcine serum by intraperitoneal injection for 8 weeks, except for the normal control group. Then, the rats in the three SCG-treated groups and UDCA group were administered SCG and UDCA respectively for 4 weeks. The serum levels of alanine transaminase（ALT）, aspartate transaminase（AST）, albumin（ALB）, total bilirubin（TBIL）, hyaluronic acid（HA）, laminin（LN）, and type Ⅳcollagen（ⅣC） were examined using commercial kits and hepatic histopathology was examined with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson staining. Moreover, the protein expression levels of high mobility group box-1 protein（HMGB1）, transforming growth factor β1（TGF-β1）, phosphorylated mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3（p-Smad3）, Smad7, toll-like receptor 4（TLR4）, myeloid differentiation factor 88（My D88）, nuclear factor-kappa B（NF-κB） and α-smooth muscle actin（α-SMA） were determined by western blot, immunohistochemistry and real time quantitativereverse transcription polymerase. Results： Both SCG（3.6 and 1.8 g/kg） and UDCA significantly ameliorated the liver fibrosis induced by porcine serum as indicated by retarding the serum levels increasing of ALT, AST, TBIL, HA, LN and ⅣC and preventing the serum level reducing of ALB compared with the model group（all P〈0.01）. Meanwhile, the collagen deposition was attenuated by SCG and UDCA treatment. Furthermore, SCG markedly reduced the expressions of HMGB1, TGF-β1, p-Smad3, TLR4, My D88, NF-κB and α-SMA, and enhanced the expression of the Smad7 compared with the model group（all P〈0.01）. Conclusion： SCG ameliorates hepatic fibrosis possibly through inhibiting HMGB1, TLR4/NF-κB and TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway.

隔药饼灸对兔动脉粥样硬化斑块中Toll样受体与核因子表达的影响

目的:观察隔药饼灸对兔动脉粥样硬化(AS)斑块中Toll样受体2(TLR 2)、TLR 4、核转录因子κB(NF-κB)mRNA表达的影响,探讨隔药饼灸稳定兔AS斑块的作用机制。方法:新西兰大耳白兔随机分为空白组、模型组、直接灸组、隔药饼灸组、药物组,每组12只。采用高脂饲料喂养及腹主动脉球囊损伤法建立兔AS模型。直接灸组及隔药饼灸组分别直接灸及隔药饼灸"巨阙"及双侧"天枢""丰隆"或双侧"心俞""脾俞""肝俞",每日1次,治疗8周。运用酶法测定血浆总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG);比色法测定血浆高密度脂蛋白(HDL)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL),并计算HDL/LDL;电泳法测定血浆载脂蛋白A(Apo-A)、载脂蛋白B(Apo-B);HE染色观察腹主动脉斑块组织结构及斑块的血管内膜厚度、内膜中膜厚度(IMT);实时荧光定量PCR技术检测兔AS斑块中TLR 2、TLR 4、NF-κB mRNA的表达水平。结果:与空白组比较,模型组血浆TC、TG、LDL、Apo-B含量显著升高(P<0.01),Apo-A含量、HDL/LDL显著降低(P<0.01),主动脉内膜厚度、IMT显著增加(P<0.01),TLR 2、TLR 4、NF-κB mRNA表达水平显著升高(P<0.01)。与模型组比较,各治疗组血浆TC、TG、LDL、Apo-B含量显著降低(P<0.05,P<0.01),Apo-A含量、HDL/LDL显著升高(P<0.01),主动脉内膜厚度、IMT显著降低(P<0.01),TLR 2、TLR 4、NF-κB mRNA表达水平显著降低(P<0.05,P<0.01)。与直接灸组比较,隔药饼灸组和药物组血浆TC、TG、LDL、Apo-B显著降低(P<0.05,P<0.01),Apo-A含量、HDL/LDL显著升高(P<0.01),主动脉内膜厚度、IMT降低(P<0.01,P<0.05),TLR 2、TLR 4、NF-κB mRNA表达水平显著降低(P<0.05,P<0.01)。结论:隔药饼灸通过抑制兔AS斑块中TLR 2、TLR 4、NF-κB mRNA的表达,可能起到稳定AS斑块的作用。

老鹳草素对D-氨基半乳糖诱导的肝损伤小鼠的保护作用及机制

目的:研究老鹳草素对D-氨基半乳糖(D-GalN)致急性肝损伤小鼠的保护作用及机制。方法:60只小鼠随机分为正常组,模型组,水飞蓟素组(180 mg·kg-1),老鹳草素低,中,高剂量组(50,100,200 mg·kg-1),灌胃给药每天1次,正常组及模型组小鼠灌胃生理盐水连续10 d。末次给药2 h后,除正常组外,其余各组腹腔注射D-GalN(500 mg·kg-1),建立D-GalN致小鼠急性肝损伤模型。16 h后,收集血清和肝组织。生化法测定血清中丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT),天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST),碱性磷酸酶(ALP),总胆红素(TBIL)和肝脏中丙二醛(MDA),总超氧化物歧化酶(T-SOD),谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活性或含量;酶联免疫吸附测定(ELISA)检测血清中肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α),白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β),白细胞介素-6(IL-6)和γ-干扰素(IFN-γ)含量;蛋白免疫印迹法(Western blot)分析肝组织中Toll样受体-4(TLR-4)和核转录因子-κB(NF-κB)蛋白表达情况;苏木素-伊红(HE)染色观察肝组织病理学变化。结果:与正常组比较,模型组小鼠血清中ALT,AST,ALP,TBIL和肝脏MDA水平显著升高(P <0. 01),与模型组比较,老鹳草素各给药组能够明显降低肝损伤小鼠血清中ALT,AST,ALP,TBIL和肝脏MDA(P <0. 05,P <0. 01),且增强肝脏T-SOD和GSH-Px活性(P <0. 05,P <0. 01),同时抑制血清中TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6和IFN-γ含量的升高和TLR-4,NF-κB的蛋白表达(P <0. 05,P <0. 01);HE染色结果显示其对肝组织损伤程度有明显改善作用。结论:综上所述,老鹳草素对D-GalN诱导的急性肝损伤小鼠具有显著的保护作用,其保肝作用机制可能与抑制氧化应激、炎症反应以及TLR-4/NF-κB信号通路有关。