Regulation of SIRT1-TLR2/TLR4 pathway in cell communication from macrophages to hepatic stellate cells contribute to alleviates hepatic fibrosis by Luteoloside

Regulating macrophage-hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) crosstalk through SIRT1-TLR2/TLR4 has contributed to the essence of new pharmacologic strategies to improve hepatic fibrosis. We investigated how Luteoloside (LUT), one of the flavonoid monomers isolated from Eclipta prostrata (L.) L., modulates macrophage-HSCs crosstalk during hepatic fibrosis. HSC-T6 or rat peritoneal macrophages were activated by TGF-β or LPS/ATP, and then treated with LUT or Sirtinol (SIRT1 inhibitor) for 6 h. Further, HSCs were cultured with the conditioned medium from the LPS/ATP activated peritoneal macrophages. In HSC-T6 or peritoneal macrophages, LUT could decrease the expressions of α-SMA, Collagen-I, the ratio of TIMP-1/MMP-13. LUT also significantly increased the expressions of SIRT1 and ERRα. And LUT significantly suppressed the releases of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, IL-1β, and regulated signaling TLR2/TLR4-MyD88 activation. The expressions of TLR2, TLR4, NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β, α-SMA were increased and the expression of ERRα was decreased by Sirtinol, indicated that LUT might mediate SIRT1 to regulate TLR4 expression and further alleviate inflammation and fibrosis. LUT could regulate SIRT1-mediated TLR4 and ECM in HSCs was reduced, when HSCs were cultured with conditioned medium. Hence, LUT could decrease the expressions of fibrosis markers, reduce the releases of inflammatory cytokines in activated HSCs or macrophages. In conclusion, LUT might be a promising candidate that regulating SIRT1-TLR2/TLR4 signaling in macrophages interacting with HSCs during hepatic fibrosis.     

Monocyte-derived immature dendritic cells negatively regulate hepatic stellate cells in vitro by secreting IL-10

The development of liver fibrosis is associated with inflammatory responses resulting from chronic liver disease. Immature dendritic cells (imDCs) play an important role in modulating the inflammatory environment of the liver. This study investigated the effects of imDCs on the regulation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) during liver fibrosis. We isolated and induced imDCs from monocytes of healthy volunteers, activated LX-2 cells with TGF-β to establish in vivo liver fibrosis HSCs model, and then set up a cell co-culture system with transwell membranes. imDC surface markers and apoptosis rates of LX-2 cells were detected by flow cytometry. The concentration of IL-10 secreted by imDC was measured through ELISA. The expression of α-SMA in LX-2 after co-culture was examined by qRT?PCR. Proliferation of LX-2 cells were detected by CCK-8. The western blot was used to illustrate the LX-2 activation-related proteins such as Smad3/7 and TGF-β1. The imDCs co-culture group and the interleukin-10 (IL-10) treatment group had similar results, as they were both able to increase apoptosis, inhibit proliferation, downregulate α-SMA mRNA, and reduce TGF-β1 and Smad3 protein expression in LX-2 cells. Additionally, the Smad7 protein level was increased after treatment with imDC and IL-10. However, the results in the IL-10 antagonist group showed the opposite trend to that of imDCs and IL-10 groups. Thus, these results suggest that imDC secretion of IL-10 negatively regulates activated LX-2 cells, probably via inhibition of the TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway and increased expression of Smad7 protein. This may be a potential therapeutic target for liver fibrosis.     

Effect of chlorogenic acid on LPS-induced proinflammatory signaling in hepatic stellate cells

Objective and design

This study was aimed at investigating the effect of chlorogenic acid (CGA) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced proinflammatory signaling in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

Methods

An immortalized rat HSC line was cultured in vitro and treated with LPS in the absence or presence of CGA. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in the HSCs was monitored by flow cytometer using DCFH-DA. The protein expression levels of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and p-IκB-α were determined by Western blot. The mRNA expression levels of TLR4, MyD88, monocyte chemotactic protein 1(MCP-1), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were detected by RT-PCR. The levels of MCP-1 and IL-6 in the culture supernatant of HSCs were measured by ELISA.

Results

CGA had no effect on expression of TLR4 and MyD88. However, the treatment of CGA can inhibit LPS-induced production of ROS in HSCs. Meanwhile, CGA can inhibit LPS-induced nuclear translocation of NF-κB and IκB-α phosphorylation in HSCs, as well as NAC (a ROS scavenger). The mRNA expression and the levels of MCP-1 and IL-6 in the culture supernatant of the HSCs in this study were elevated by LPS stimulation and inhibited by CGA treatment, as well as NAC and PDTC (a NF-κB inhibitor).

Conclusion

Our results indicate that CGA can efficiently inhibit LPS-induced proinflammatory responses in HSCs and the anti-inflammatory effect may be due to the inhibition of LPS/ROS/NF-κB signaling pathway.     

大鼠原代肝星状细胞活化后组蛋白修饰水平的观察

目的:观察体外培养大鼠肝星状细胞(HSCs)活化过程中组蛋白修饰的改变以及与HSCs活化指标α-平滑肌肌动蛋白(α-SMA)的关系,探讨组蛋白修饰在HSCs活化过程中可能的作用。方法:体外分离、鉴定、培养大鼠HSCs,光镜观察HSCs活化过程中的形态变化,细胞免疫荧光染色和Western blotting检测desmin和α-SMA的表达,比较静止型HSCs和激活型HSCs中H4K12乙酰化、H3K9乙酰化、H3K4二甲基化和H3K9二甲基化的变化。结果:(1)细胞形态学观察结果表明HSCs在培养过程中形态由静息状态向高度分化的肌成纤维细胞转化。细胞免疫荧光染色及Western blotting检测结果显示,分离培养24 h的HSCs有desmin表达,但几乎不表达α-SMA;随着培养时间延长,HSCs内α-SMA和desmin表达逐步增加,至15 d时达到最大。(2)根据HSCs细胞形态变化及HSCs活化标志蛋白检测结果,确定培养24 h的HSCs为静止型HSCs,培养15 d的HSCs为激活型HSCs,分别检测其组蛋白修饰变化。结果显示,与静止型HSCs比较,激活型HSCs中H4K12乙酰化、H3K9乙酰化和H3K9二甲基化修饰水平明显降低(P0.01),而H3K4二甲基化修饰水平明显增加(P0.01),且H3K4二甲基化修饰水平变化与α-SMA表达变化一致。结论:在体外培养HSCs活化过程中,组蛋白修饰发生明显异常,提示组蛋白修饰改变有可能参与了HSCs活化以及肝纤维化的发生。     

Inhibition of hepatic stellate cells by bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in hepatic fibrosis

Background/Aims

Therapies involving bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) have considerable potential in the management of hepatic disease. BM-MSCs have been investigated in regenerative medicine due to their ability to secrete various growth factors and cytokines that regress hepatic fibrosis and enhance hepatocyte functionality. The aim of this study was to determine the antifibrosis effect of BM-MSCs on activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and the mechanism underlying how BM-MSCs modulate the function of activated HSCs.

Methods

We used HSCs in both direct and indirect co-culture systems with BM-MSCs to evaluate the antifibrosis effect of BM-MSCs. The cell viability and apoptosis were evaluated by a direct co-culture system of activated HSCs with BM-MSCs. The activations of both HSCs alone and HSCs with BM-MSCs in the direct co-culture system were observed by immunocytochemistry for alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). The levels of growth factors and cytokines were evaluated by an indirect co-culture system of activated HSCs with BM-MSCs.

Results

The BM-MSCs in the direct co-culture system significantly decreased the production of α-SMA and the viability of activated HSCs, whereas they induced the apoptosis of activated HSCs. The BM-MSCs in the indirect co-culture system decreased the production of transforming growth factor-β1 and interleukin (IL)-6, whereas they increased the production of hepatocyte growth factor and IL-10. These results confirmed that the juxtacrine and paracrine effects of BM-MSCs can inhibit the proliferative, fibrogenic function of activated HSCs and have the potential to reverse the fibrotic process by inhibiting the production of α-SMA and inducing the apoptosis of HSCs.

Conclusions

These results have demonstrated that BM-MSCs may exert an antifibrosis effect by modulating the function of activated HSCs.     

柴芪益肝颗粒防治四氯化碳诱导大鼠肝纤维化的作用

目的观察柴芪益肝颗粒治疗四氯化碳诱导的大鼠肝纤维化的疗效及其对Leptin、TGF—β1和IL-13因子的影响。方法将50只SD大鼠随机分为模型组、柴芪益肝颗粒组、复方鳖甲软肝片组、秋水仙碱组和空白对照组,每组10只。大鼠腹腔注射四氯化碳诱导肝纤维化,光镜观察肝组织病理学改变,放射免疫分析法检测肝纤四项,液相芯片检测血清细胞因子。结果与模型组比较,柴芪益肝颗粒组肝脏病理变化显著减轻,肝小叶结构基本清晰,细胞索、肝窦无明显异常;与模型组比较,透明质酸（P=0．001）、层粘连蛋白（P=0．005）和Ⅳ型胶原（P=0．000）水平显著降低,瘦素（P=0．012）、转化生长因子131（TGF-β1）（P=0．000）和白介素13（IL-13）（P=0．016）水平亦显著降低,差异均有统计学意义。结论柴芪益肝颗粒显著改善肝纤维化,可能与其通过降低瘦素、TGF—β1和IL-13水平,抑制细胞外基质沉积有关。     

SPOP negatively regulates Toll-like receptor-induced inflammation by disrupting MyD88 self-association

Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathways need to be tightly controlled to avoid excessive inflammation and unwanted damage to the host. Myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88) is a critical adaptor of TLR signaling. Here, we identified the speckle-type POZ protein (SPOP) as a MyD88-associated protein. SPOP was recruited to MyD88 following TLR4 activation. TLR4 activation also caused the translocation of SPOP from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. SPOP depletion promoted the aggregation of MyD88 and recruitment of the downstream signaling kinases IRAK4, IRAK1 and IRAK2. Consistently, overexpression of SPOP inhibited the TLR4-mediated activation of NF-κB and production of inflammatory cytokines, whereas SPOP depletion had the opposite effects. Furthermore, knockdown of SPOP increased MyD88 aggregation and inflammatory cytokine production upon TLR2, TLR7 and TLR9 activation. Our findings reveal a mechanism by which MyD88 is regulated and highlight a role for SPOP in limiting inflammatory responses.     

Human placental mesenchymal stem cells of fetal origins-alleviated inflammation and fibrosis by attenuating MyD88 signaling in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis mice

Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive lung disease that its pathogenic mechanism currently is incompletely understood. Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling has recently been identified as a regulator of inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis. In addition, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) of different origins offer a great promise in treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However mechanisms of pathogenic roles of TLR signaling and therapeutic effects of MSCs in the IPF remain elusive. In present study, the involvement of TLR signaling and the therapeutic role of MSCs were interrogated in MyD88-deficient mice using human placental MSCs of fetal origins (hfPMSCs). The results showed an alleviated pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis in myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88)-deficient mice treated with bleomycin (BLM), accompanied with a reduced TGF-β signaling and production of pro-fibrotic cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1β. An exposure of HLF1 lung fibroblasts, A549 epithelial cells and RAW264.7 macrophages to BLM led an increased expression of key components of MyD88 and TGF-β signaling cascades. Of interest, enforced expression and inhibition of MyD88 protein resulted in an enhanced and a reduced TGF-β signaling in above cells in the presence of BLM, respectively. However, the addition of TGF-β1 showed a marginally inhibitory effect on MyD88 signaling in these cells in the absence of BLM. Importantly, the administration of hfPMSCs could significantly attenuate BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice, along with a reduced hydroxyproline (HYP) deposition, MyD88 and TGF-β signaling activation, and production of pro-fibrotic cytokines. These results may suggest an importance of MyD88/TGF-β signaling axis in the tissue homeostasis and functional integrity of lung in response to injury, which may offer a novel target for treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.     

A variety of microbial components induce tolerance to lipopolysaccharide by differentially affecting MyD88-dependent and -independent pathways

Exposure of macrophages to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces a hypo-responsive state to a second challenge with LPS that is termed LPS tolerance. LPS tolerance is also induced by pre-exposure to lipopeptides and lipoteichoic acid, which trigger Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2-mediated signaling. LPS signaling involves at least two pathways: a MyD88-dependent cascade that is essential for production of inflammatory cytokines and a MyD88-independent cascade that mediates the expression of IFN-inducible genes. We analyzed the induction of LPS tolerance by several microbial components in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Pre-exposure to LPS led to impaired activation of both the pathways. In contrast, mycoplasmal lipopeptides did not affect the MyD88-independent pathway, but impaired the MyD88-dependent signaling by inhibiting LPS-mediated activation of IL-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK) 1. The induction of LPS tolerance by recently identified TLR ligands was analyzed. Pretreatment with double-stranded RNA, which triggers the activation of TLR3, led to defective activation of the MyD88-independent, but not the MyD88-dependent, pathway. Imidazoquinoline compounds, which are recognized by TLR7, had no effect on the MyD88-independent pathway, but inhibited LPS-induced activation of MyD88-dependent signaling through down-regulation of IRAK1 expression. Thus, each microbial component induced LPS tolerance in macrophages.     

SAMe prevents the up regulation of toll-like receptor signaling in Mallory–Denk body forming hepatocytes

Mallory–Denk body (MDB) formation is a component of alcoholic and non alcoholic hepatitis. In the present study, the role of the toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway was investigated in the mechanism of MDB formation in the DDC-fed mouse model. Microarray analysis data mining, performed on the livers of drug-primed mice refed DDC, showed that TLR2/4 gene expression was significantly up regulated by DDC refeeding. SAMe supplementation prevented this up regulation and prevented the formation of MDBs. qRT-PCR analysis confirmed these results. TLR2/4 activates the adapter protein MyD88. The levels of MyD88 were increased by DDC refeeding. The increase of MyD88 was also prevented by SAMe supplementation. Results showed that MyD88-independent TLR3/4-TRIF-IRF3 pathway was not up regulated in the liver of DDC refed mice. Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) is the downstream protein recruited by the MyD88/IRAK protein complex, and is involved in the regulation of innate immune responses. Results showed a significant increase in the levels of TRAF-6. TRAF-6 activation leads to activation of NFkB and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade. The TRAF-6 increase was ameliorated by SAMe supplementation. These results suggest that DDC induces MDB formation through the TLR2/4 and MyD88-dependent signaling pathway. In conclusion, SAMe blocked the over-expression of TLR2/4, and their downstream signaling components MyD88 and TRAF-6. SAMe prevented the DDC-induced up regulation of the TLR signaling pathways, probably by preventing the up regulation of INF-γ receptors by DDC feeding. INFγ stimulates the up regulation of TLR2. The ability of SAMe feeding to prevent TLR signaling up regulation has not been previously described.     

CD14 is required for MyD88-independent LPS signaling

The recessive mutation 'Heedless' (hdl) was detected in third-generation N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea-mutated mice that showed defective responses to microbial inducers. Macrophages from Heedless homozygotes signaled by the MyD88-dependent pathway in response to rough lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipid A, but not in response to smooth LPS. In addition, the Heedless mutation prevented TRAM-TRIF-dependent signaling in response to all LPS chemotypes. Heedless also abolished macrophage responses to vesicular stomatitis virus and substantially inhibited responses to specific ligands for the Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2)-TLR6 heterodimer. The Heedless phenotype was positionally ascribed to a premature stop codon in Cd14. Our data suggest that the TLR4-MD-2 complex distinguishes LPS chemotypes, but CD14 nullifies this distinction. Thus, the TLR4-MD-2 complex receptor can function in two separate modes: one in which full signaling occurs and one limited to MyD88-dependent signaling.     

辛二酰苯胺异羟肟酸诱导大鼠原代肝星状细胞凋亡

目的:通过研究辛二酰苯胺异羟肟酸(SAHA)对大鼠原代肝星状细胞(HSCs)凋亡及相关蛋白表达的影响,探讨SAHA诱导HSCs凋亡的作用机制。方法:采用Opti Prep梯度离心法分离大鼠原代HSCs;通过实时细胞分析技术检测SAHA对HSCs增殖的影响;倒置显微镜观察不同浓度SAHA处理HSCs后的形态变化;荧光显微镜及流式细胞术Annexin V-FITC/PI法检测细胞凋亡率;Western blotting法检测α-平滑肌肌动蛋白(α-SMA)、Ⅰ型胶原、金属蛋白酶组织抑制物1(TIMP1)、葡萄糖调节蛋白78(GRP78)和组蛋白去乙酰化酶6(HDAC6)的蛋白表达;免疫共沉淀法检测GRP78蛋白与HDAC6蛋白是否形成复合物。结果:成功分离的HSCs连续培养14 d,HSCs逐渐由静止状态变为激活状态。SAHA可显著抑制HSCs增殖,且呈剂量时间依赖性(P0.05);SAHA对HSCs的促凋亡作用具有时间依赖性(P0.05)。SAHA处理HSCs后,α-SMA、Ⅰ型胶原、HDAC6和TIMP1的蛋白表达水平明显降低(P0.05),GRP78的蛋白表达水平明显升高(P0.05)。与激活型的HSCs相比,SAHA处理后的HSCs中免疫共沉淀下的蛋白复合物中GRP78与总的乙酰化赖氨酸蛋白显著增多,而HDAC6蛋白显著降低,同时证明GRP78与HDAC6形成复合物。结论:SAHA抗肝纤维化的机制可能是,SAHA下调HDAC6蛋白表达水平,上调乙酰化GRP78蛋白表达水平,诱导HSCs内质网应激,促进肝星状细胞凋亡,从而起到抗肝纤维化的作用。     

IOX1对TGF-β诱导的LX2细胞增殖、凋亡及细胞外基质相关蛋白表达的影响

目的:探讨组蛋白去甲基化酶抑制剂IOX1(5-羧基-8-羟基喹啉)提高组蛋白H3第9位赖氨酸二甲基化(H3K9me2)水平对转化生长因子β(TGF-β)诱导的人肝星状细胞株LX2增殖、凋亡及细胞外基质合成和代谢的影响。方法:采用实时无标记细胞分析技术动态观察不同浓度IOX1对TGF-β诱导的LX2细胞增殖的影响。采用流式细胞术观察IOX1对TGF-β诱导的LX2细胞凋亡的影响。Western blot检测细胞中H3K9me2水平,以及α-平滑肌肌动蛋白(α-SMA)、Ⅰ型胶原(Col I)、基质金属蛋白酶1(MMP-1)和金属蛋白酶组织抑制物1(TIMP-1)蛋白的表达。结果:与对照组相比,不同浓度的IOX1均能抑制LX2细胞增殖。流式细胞术结果表明,IOX1能够促进LX2细胞凋亡(P<0.05)。Western blot结果发现,IOX1能提高LX2中H3K9me2水平,且呈剂量依赖性(P<0.05);与对照组相比,300μmol/L IOX1能够明显抑制TGF-β诱导的LX2细胞中α-SMA、TIMP-1和Col I蛋白的表达(P<0.05),MMP-1蛋白的表达在不同浓度IOX1组中表现为上升趋势(P<0.05)。结论:IOX1可抑制TGF-β诱导的LX2细胞增殖并促进细胞凋亡,还可通过提高H3K9me2水平调节细胞外基质的合成和代谢,从而发挥抗肝纤维化作用。     

骨髓间质干细胞抑制肝星状细胞增殖与活化的体外研究

目的：探讨骨髓间质干细胞（MSCs）对活化态肝星状细胞（HSCs）增殖的影响。 方法： 分别从骨髓和肝脏分离纯化培养大鼠MSCs及HSCs，塑料板传代培养激活HSCs；在半透膜（transwell insert）上接种MSCs，在6孔塑料培养板上接种HSCs，建立上下双层细胞共培养体系；大鼠正常肝细胞系（BRLs）及HSCs培养分别作为对照。免疫细胞化学检测平滑肌激动蛋白（α-SMA）与结蛋白的表达，IBAS 2.5软件分析阳性染色表达量。 结果： HSCs与MSCs共培养24 h，HSCs表现轻度增殖抑制，随着培养时间延长，HSCs增殖活性受抑制更明显，在48 h和72 h的抑制率分别达15.7%与30.3%，与BRLs共培养体系比较有显著差异；与MSCs共培养72 h, HSCs表达α-SMA量明显低于两个对照组BRLs及HSCs培养体系（50.2% vs 90.2%、95.6%, P＜0.01）；而结蛋白表达的量在3组共培养体系中均无显著差异。 结论： MSCs具有分泌细胞因子抑制HSCs增殖活性的潜能,在治疗肝纤维化中可能发挥作用。     

Wound healing is impaired in MyD88-deficient mice: a role for MyD88 in the regulation of wound healing by adenosine A2A receptors

Synergy between Toll-like receptor (TLR) and adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) signaling switches macrophages from production of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha to production of the angiogenic growth factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We show in this study that this switch critically requires signaling through MyD88, IRAK4, and TRAF6. Macrophages from mice lacking MyD88 (MyD88(-/-)) or IRAK4 (IRAK4(-/-)) lacked responsiveness to TLR agonists and did not respond to A2AR agonists by expressing VEGF. Suppression of TRAF6 expression with siRNA in RAW264.7 macrophages also blocked their response to TLR and A2AR agonists. Excisional skin wounds in MyD88(-/-) mice healed at a markedly slower rate than wounds in wild-type MyD88(+/+) mice, showing delayed contraction, decreased and delayed granulation tissue formation, and reduced new blood vessel density. Although macrophages accumulated to higher levels in MyD88(-/-) wounds than in controls, expression of VEGF and HIF1-alpha mRNAs was elevated in MyD88(+/+) wounds. CGS21680, an A2AR agonist, promoted repair in MyD88(+/+) wounds and stimulated angiogenesis but had no significant effect on healing of MyD88(-/-) wounds. These results suggest that the synergistic interaction between TLR and A(2A)R signaling observed in vitro that switches macrophages from an inflammatory to an angiogenic phenotype also plays a role in wound healing in vivo.     

丹参素对肝星状细胞TGF-β信号转导的影响

目的： 观察丹参素对转化生长因子β1（TGF-β1）诱导活化的大鼠肝星状细胞(HSCs)Smad信号转导通路的影响。方法：体外分离、培养大鼠肝HSCs,用不同浓度丹参素作用于HSCs,检测丹参素对HSCs增殖和TGF-β1刺激后HSCs增殖的影响;观察丹参素对TGF-β1刺激HSCs表达α-SMA的影响;观察HSCs转化生长因子受体(TβRⅠ、Ⅱ)的表达;观察丹参素和TGF-β1作用HSCs后,其Smad2、Smad3、Smad7 mRNA表达的变化。结果：(1)丹参素在0.0625 mmol/L-1 mmol/L时,对HSCs的生长增殖具有抑制作用 (P<0.05);丹参素对TGF-β1诱导的HSCs增殖也具有明显的抑制作用 (P<0.05)。(2)丹参素0.25 mmol/ L作用HSCs能下调α-SMA的表达(P<0.05),也能下调TGF-β1诱导的HSCs的α-SMA表达(P<0.05)。（3）HSCs中TβRⅠ、Ⅱ的表达定位于细胞膜上,丹参素能下调活化HSCs中TβRⅠ、Ⅱ的表达（P<0.05或P<0.01）。 (4) TGF-β1促进HSCs中Smad2、Smad3、Smad7 mRNA的表达（P<0.01）;丹参素能下调TGF-β1诱导的HSCs内Smad2、Smad3 mRNA的表达(P<0.05),并能上调Smad7 mRNA表达(P<0.05)。 结论：体外细胞实验表明,丹参素能通过下调活化HSCs细胞膜上TβRⅠ、Ⅱ蛋白的表达来抑制HSCs的活化增殖。丹参素能上调HSCs内Smad7 mRNA表达,并下调Smad2、Smad3 mRNA表达,抑制HSCs活化,并抑制TGF-β1诱导的HSCs活化。     

Toll-like receptor 4 mediates tolerance in macrophages stimulated with Toxoplasma gondii-derived heat shock protein 70

Peritoneal macrophages (PMs) from toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-deficient and wild-type (WT) mice were responsive to recombinant Toxoplasma gondii-derived heat shock protein 70 (rTgHSP70) and natural TgHSP70 (nTgHSP70) in NO release, but those from TLR2-, myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)-, and interleukin-1R-associated kinase 4 (IRAK4)-deficient mice were not. Polymyxin B did not inhibit PM activation by TgHSP70 and nTgHSP70 from WT and TLR4-deficient mice, while it inhibited PM activation by lipopolysaccharide. Pretreatment of PMs from WT but not from TLR4-deficient mice with rTgHSP70 resulted in suppression of NO release on restimulation with rTgHSP70. Similarly, pretreatment of PMs from WT but not TLR4-deficient mice with nTgHSP70 resulted in suppression of NO release on restimulation with nTgHSP70. Polymyxin B did not inhibit rTgHSP70- and nTgHSP70-induced tolerance of PMs from TLR4-deficient mice. Furthermore, PMs from WT mice increased suppressor of cytokine-signaling-1 (SOCS-1) expression after restimulation with rTgHSP70, while those from TLR4-deficient mice did not. Phosphorylation of JNK and I-kappaBalpha occurred in rTgHSP70-induced tolerance of PMs from TLR4-deficient mice, but not in that from WT mice. These data indicated that TgHSP70 signaling mechanisms were mediated by TLR2, MyD88, and IRAK4, but not by TLR4. On the other hand, signaling of TgHSP70-induced tolerance was mediated by TLR4, and the expression of SOCS-1 suppressed the TLR2 signaling pathway.