Objective:To study the mechanism of chloroquine(CQ) on relief of liver injury in severe acute pancreatitis(SAP).
Methods :Sixty Wistar male rats were randomized into sham-operated, SAP, L-Arg-treated, L-NAME-treated, CQ-treated and CQ+ L-NAME-treated group. Expression of TLR4 was detected using RT-PCR and Western Blot.
Results:TLR4 expression was markedly increased in SAP(P<0.05). Liver injury was increased, and NO concentration was decreased(P<0.05). When TLR4 was inhibited by L-Arg or stimulated by L-NAME, liver injury was relieved or increased (P<0.05). CQ inhibited expression of TLR4,increased production of NO,and subsequently relieved liver injury (P<0.05). When rats with SAP were injected with CQ and L-NAME, NO concentration was markedly decreased, the effect of CQ on inhibiting TLR4 expression was markedly weakened (P<0.05),and liver injury was increased.
Conclusions:TLR4 expression might play an important role in pathogenesis and development of liver injury in SAP. The inhibition of TLR4 expression from CQ could be via the pathway of increasing production and release of NO, which can result in relief of liver injury in SAP rats.