Mesenteric artery responsiveness to acetylcholine and phenylephrine in cirrhotic rats challenged with endotoxin: the role of TLR4

2015 ◽  
Vol 93 (6) ◽  
pp. 475-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sattar Ostadhadi ◽  
Seyed-Mahdi Rezayat ◽  
Shahram Ejtemaei-Mehr ◽  
Seyed-Mohammad Tavangar ◽  
Vahid Nikoui ◽  
...  

Cirrhosis is associated with vascular dysfunction and endotoxemia. These experiments were designed to investigate the hypothesis that the administration of a low-dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) worsens vascular dysfunction in rats subjected to bile-duct ligation (BDL), and to determine whether LPS initiates changes in vascular Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression. Four weeks after BDL, the animals were given an intraperitoneal injection of either saline or LPS (1.0 mg/kg body mass). Three hours later, the superior mesenteric artery was isolated, perfused, and then subjected to the vasoconstriction and vasodilatation effects of phenylephrine and acetylcholine, respectively. Our results show that phenylephrine-induced vasoconstriction decreased in the cirrhotic vascular bed (BDL rats) compared with the vascular bed of the sham-operated animals, and that the LPS injections in the cirrhotic (BDL) rats worsened this response. LPS injection administered to the sham-operated animals had no such effect. On the other hand, both the BDL procedure and the LPS injection increased acetylcholine-induced vasorelaxation, but LPS administration to the BDL rats had no effect on this response. The mRNA levels of TLR4 did not change, but immunohistochemical studies showed that TLR4 localization switched from the endothelium to vascular smooth muscle cells following chronic BDL. In conclusion, acute endotoxemia in cirrhotic rats is associated with hyporesponsiveness to phenylephrine and tolerance to the effects of acetylcholine. Altered localization of TLR4 may be responsible for these effects.

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patipark Kueanjinda ◽  
Sittiruk Roytrakul ◽  
Tanapat Palaga

Abstract Activation of macrophages triggers the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines leading to inflammation. Numb is a negative regulator of Notch signaling, but the role of Numb in macrophages is not fully understood. In this study, the role of Numb as a regulator of inflammatory responses in macrophages was investigated. Murine bone marrow-derived macrophages, in which expression of Numb was silenced, secreted significantly less TNFα, IL-6 and IL-12 and more IL-10 upon activation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a ligand for Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), despite increased Notch signaling. The Tnfα mRNA levels both in Numb-deficient and wild-type macrophages were not significantly different, unlike those of Il6 and Il12-p40. In Numb-deficient macrophages, the Tnfα mRNAs were degraded at faster rate, compared to those in control macrophages. Activation of p38 MAPK and NF-κΒ p65 were compromised in activated Numb deficient macrophages. Numb was found to interact with the E3 ubiquitin ligase, Itch, which reportedly regulates p38 MAPK. In addition, blocking the Notch signaling pathway in activated, Numb-deficient macrophages did not further reduce TNFα levels, suggesting a Notch-independent role for Numb. A proteomics approach revealed a novel funciton for Numb in regulating complex signaling cascades downstream of TLRs, partially involving Akt/NF-κB p65/p38 MAPK in macrophages.


2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (6) ◽  
pp. C1422-C1430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min-Fu Tsan ◽  
Robert N. Clark ◽  
Sanna M. Goyert ◽  
Julie E. White

Endotoxin (LPS) is a potent inducer of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD). Recent evidence suggests that LPS induction of TNF-α and MnSOD mRNAs is mediated through distinct intracellular signal transduction pathways. Membrane CD14 (mCD14) and Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) mediate LPS induction of TNF-α in macrophages. In the current study, we evaluated the role of mCD14 and TLR4 in LPS induction of MnSOD using peritoneal macrophages from CD14 knockout (CD14-KO) mice and mice with the Tlr4 gene point mutation (C3H/HeJ) or deletion (C57BL/10ScCr). We studied mCD14-dependent (1 and 10 ng/ml) and mCD14-independent (1,000 ng/ml) concentrations of LPS. Compared with control (BALB/c) macrophages, LPS at 1 and 10 ng/ml failed to induce TNF-α or MnSOD mRNA in CD14-KO macrophages. However, LPS at 1,000 ng/ml induced TNF-α and MnSOD mRNAs equally in macrophages from CD14-KO and control mice. LPS (1, 10, or 1,000 ng/ml) failed to induce TNF-α or MnSOD mRNA and failed to activate nuclear factor-κB in C3H/HeJ or C57BL/10ScCr macrophages. Measurements of TNF-α and MnSOD enzyme activity paralleled TNF-α and MnSOD mRNA levels. These data demonstrate that, like TNF-α, induction of MnSOD by LPS is mediated by mCD14 and TLR4 in murine macrophages.


2005 ◽  
Vol 289 (5) ◽  
pp. G798-G805 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gernot Zollner ◽  
Martin Wagner ◽  
Peter Fickert ◽  
Andreas Geier ◽  
Andrea Fuchsbichler ◽  
...  

Expression of the main hepatic bile acid uptake system, the Na+-taurocholate cotransporter (Ntcp), is downregulated during cholestasis. Bile acid-induced, farnesoid X receptor (FXR)-mediated induction of the nuclear repressor short heterodimer partner (SHP) has been proposed as a key mechanism reducing Ntcp expression. However, the role of FXR and SHP or other nuclear receptors and hepatocyte-enriched transcription factors in mediating Ntcp repression in obstructive cholestasis is unclear. FXR knockout (FXR−/−) and wild-type (FXR+/+) mice were subjected to common bile duct ligation (CBDL). Cholic acid (CA)-fed and LPS-treated FXR−/− and FXR+/+ mice were studied for comparison. mRNA levels of Ntcp and SHP and nuclear protein levels of hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-1α, HNF-3β, HNF-4α, retinoid X receptor (RXR)-α, and retinoic acid receptor (RAR)-α and their DNA binding were assessed. Hepatic cytokine mRNA levels were also measured. CBDL and CA led to Ntcp repression in FXR+/+, but not FXR−/−, mice, whereas LPS reduced Ntcp expression in both genotypes. CBDL and LPS but not CA induced cytokine expression and reduced levels of HNF-1α, HNF-3β, HNF-4α, RXRα, and RARα to similar extents in FXR+/+ and FXR−/−. DNA binding of these transactivators was unaffected by CA in FXR+/+ mice but was markedly reduced in FXR−/− mice. In conclusion, Ntcp repression by CBDL and CA is mediated by accumulating bile acids via FXR and does not depend on cytokines, whereas Ntcp repression by LPS is independent of FXR. Reduced levels of HNF-1α, RXRα, and RARα in CBDL FXR−/− mice and reduced DNA binding in CA-fed FXR−/− mice, despite unchanged Ntcp levels, indicate that these factors may have a minor role in regulation of mouse Ntcp during cholestasis.


2013 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 77S
Author(s):  
Ali Navi ◽  
Rebekah Yu ◽  
Xu Shi-Wen ◽  
Sidney Shaw ◽  
George Hamilton ◽  
...  

Zygote ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Júlio Panzera Gonçalves ◽  
Breno Augusto Magalhães ◽  
Paulo Henrique Almeida Campos-Junior

Abstract Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is best known for its role in bacteria-produced lipopolysaccharide recognition. Regarding female reproduction, TLR4 is expressed by murine cumulus cells and participates in ovulation and in cumulus–oocyte complex (COC) expansion, maternal–fetal interaction and preterm labour. Despite these facts, the role of TLR4 in ovarian physiology is not fully understood. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of TLR4 genetic ablation on mice folliculogenesis and female fertility, through analysis of reproductive crosses, ovarian responsiveness and follicular quantification in TLR4−/− (n = 94) and C57BL/6 mice [wild type (WT), n = 102]. TLR4-deficient pairs showed a reduced number of pups per litter (P = 0.037) compared with WT. TLR4−/− mice presented more primordial, primary, secondary and antral follicles (P < 0.001), however there was no difference in estrous cyclicity (P > 0.05). A lower (P = 0.006) number of COC was recovered from TLR4−/− mice oviducts after superovulation, and in heterozygous pairs, TLR4−/− females also showed a reduction in the pregnancy rate and in the number of fetuses per uterus (P = 0.007) when compared with WT. Altogether, these data suggest that TLR4 plays a role in the regulation of murine folliculogenesis and in determining ovarian endowment. TLR4 deficiency may affect ovulation and pregnancy rates, potentially decreasing fertility, therefore the potential side effects of its blockade have to be carefully investigated.


Circulation ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hwi Jin Ko ◽  
Dae Young Jung ◽  
Zhexi Ma ◽  
Jason K Kim

Increasing evidence implicates the role of inflammation in diabetes and complications. Macrophages are shown to infiltrate adipose tissue in obesity, and inflammatory cytokines alter glucose metabolism in peripheral organs. Male C57BL/6 mice were fed high-fat diet (HFD; 55% fat by calories) or chow diet for 6 weeks, and heart samples were taken for analysis (n = 5~7). Chronic HFD increased whole body fat mass, measured by 1 H-MRS, by 3-fold, and elevated plasma IL-6 and TNF-α levels by 40%. Diet-induced obesity caused inflammation in heart and increased macrophage-specific CD68 levels by 5-fold (Fig. 1) (* P < 0.05 vs Chow). Diet-induced cardiac inflammation was associated with significant increases in toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and MyD88 levels in heart (Fig. 2). HFD also increased cardiomyocyte SOCS3 levels by more than 3-fold (Fig. 3). Myocardial glucose metabolism was measured using intravenous injection of 2-[ 14 C]deoxyglucose in awake mice (n = 6). Chronic HFD reduced myocardial glucose uptake by 50%, and this was associated with significant reductions in total GLUT4 and GLUT1 protein levels. Further, Thr 172 phosphorylation of AMPK, a critical regulator of energy balance, was markedly reduced in heart following HFD (Fig. 4). These results demonstrate that diet-induced obesity causes macrophage infiltration and inflammation in heart by increasing TLR4 signaling in cardiomyocytes. Similar to the effects of inflammation on peripheral glucose metabolism, diet-induced cardiac inflammation reduced myocardial glucose metabolism by downregulating AMPK and GLUT protein levels. Thus, our findings underscore an important role of inflammation in diabetic heart.


2007 ◽  
Vol 128 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 409-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Almut Nebel ◽  
Friederike Flachsbart ◽  
Arne Schäfer ◽  
Michael Nothnagel ◽  
Susanna Nikolaus ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Molteni ◽  
Sabrina Gemma ◽  
Carlo Rossetti

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) belongs to the family of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). They are highly conserved receptors that recognize conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), thus representing the first line of defense against infections. TLR4 has been long recognized as the sensing receptor for gram-negative lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, it also binds endogenous molecules produced as a result of tissue injury. Hence, TLR4 represents a key receptor on which both infectious and noninfectious stimuli converge to induce a proinflammatory response. TLR4-mediated inflammation, triggered by exogenous or endogenous ligands, is also involved in several acute and chronic diseases, having a pivotal role as amplifier of the inflammatory response. This review focuses on the research progress about the role of TLR4 activation in infectious and noninfectious (e.g., sterile) inflammation and the effects of TLR4 signaling in some pathological conditions.


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