Objective: To determine the relationship between Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) mRNA expression and liver injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
Methods: Balb/c mice were sacrificed at the indicated time points after the intra-peritoneal LPS. The livers were stained with hematoxylin and erosin for histopathologic analysis. Simultaneously, the expression of TLR4mRNA was detected by RT-PCR.
Results: A large number of inflammatory cells infiltrated into the portal areas and focal hepatocellular necrosis occurred 24 h after the intra-peritoneal LPS. The expression of TLR4mRNA in the liver was significantly depressed at 6 h and 12 h after the intra-peritoneal LPS, but recruited at 24 h.
Conclusion: The signal transduction molecule TLR4 plays an important role in LPS-induced liver injury.