Abstract:Objective To explore Tolllike receptor2 (TLR2) expression after partial liver ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in BALB/c mice and its relationship with liver function impairment.
Methods All the animals were randomly divided into ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R) and sham operation (S) groups. Total RNA was extracted from the liver samples and the expression of TLR2 mRNA was analyzed quantitatively by realtime PCR method. Membrane protein was extracted, and the expression of TLR2 protein was detected by western blot method. Portal vein serum and plasma were taken for further detection of the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and endotoxin.
Results After 1h of partial liver ischemia and 4 h of reperfusion, the expression of TLR2 mRNA and TLR2 protein were both remarkably upregulated in tissues of ischemic liver lobes in I/R group compared with that in S group (value of TLR2mRNA: 1.06±0.91vs5.08±1.32,P<0.01; value of OD: 433.91±25.53vs102.86±13.58, P<0.01)，as well as the levels of portal vein TNFα and ALT (level of TNFα: 112.52±14.41 pg/ml vs 5.96±4.43 pg/ml, P<0.01；level of ALT: 848.33±271.37U/L vs 42.39±14.75 U/L,P<0.01) . The levels of endotoxin in portal vein remained constantly below the normal level，and the difference between both groups was not significant (P>0.05).
Conclusions TLR2mRNA and TLR2 protein expression were upregulated in tissues of ischemic liver lobes after partial I/R injury in mice, and were associated with increased levels of portal vein ALT and TNFα,and impairment of liver function.