Role of nitric oxide in Toll-like receptor 2 and 4 mRNA expression in liver of acute hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis rats

AIM： To investigate the role of nitric oxide （NO） in Tolllike receptor 2 （TLR2）/4mRNA expression in livers of acute hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis （AHNP） rats. METHODS： One hundred and ten SD male rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group （n = 10）, AHNP group （n = 30）, chloroquine （CQ）-treated group （n = 30） and L-Arg-treated group （n = 40）. TLR2/4mRNA expression in the liver of AHNP rats was measured by RT-PCR. RESULTS： Expression of TLR2/4mRNA could be detected in the liver of AHNP rats in sham-operated group （0.155E-5±0.230E-6 and 0.115E-2±0.545E-4）, but was markedly increased at 3 h in AHNP group （0.197E-2±0.114E-3 and 0.175±0.349E-2） peaking at 12 h （0.294E-2 ± 0.998E-4 and 2.673 ± 2.795E-2, P〈 0.01）. Hepatic injuries were aggravated, TNF-α concentration in the liver was increased and NO concentration was decreased （P〈 0.05 or P〈 0.01）. When TLR2/4mRNA expression was inhibited by CQ （3 h： 1.037E-4±3.299E-6 and 0.026±3.462E-3; 6 h： 1.884E-4±4.679E-6 and 0.108±6.115E-3; 12 h： 2.443E-4±7.714E-6 and 0.348±6.807E-3; P 〈 0.01）, hepatic injuries were relieved, NO concentration in the liver was increased and TNF-α concentration was decreased （P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）. When rats with AHNP were treated with L-Arg, TLR2/4mRNA expression in the liver could be effectively inhibited （50 mg-T： 0.232E-2±0.532E-4 and 0.230±6.883E-3; 100 mg-T： 0.210E-2± 1.691E-4 and 0.187±0.849E-2; 200 mg-T： 0.163E-2±0.404E-4 and 0.107±0.195E-2; 400 mg-T： 0.100E-2±0.317E-4 and 0.084±0.552E-2; P〈0.01） and hepatic injuries were relieved. At the same time, NO concentration in the liver was markedly increased and TNF-α concentration was decreased （P〈0.05 or P〈O.OI）, CONCLUSION： The expression of TLR2/4mRNA is increased and hepatic injuries are aggravated in the liver of AHNP rats. TLR2/4mRNA gene expression in the liver of AHNP rats can be markedly inhibited by NO, leading to the relief of hepatic injuries.