[Protective mechanisms of radix salviae miltiorrhizae against chronic alcoholic liver injury in mice].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the protective mechanisms of Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae (RSM) on chronic alcoholic liver injury in mice.


METHODS
The chronic alcoholic liver injury mouse model was established. The morphologic change of hepatic tissue was observed with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining; the levels of toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) mRNA in hepatic tissue and hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) mRNA were determined using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique; and the expression of TLR-4 protein was determined by immunohistochemistry method.


RESULTS
RSM could alleviate the fatty degeneration and adiponecrosis of hepatic cells induced by alcohol, down-regulate the expressions of TLR-4 mRNA and HO-1 mRNA, and significantly decrease the number of TLR-4 positive cells.


CONCLUSIONS
RSM could prevent liver injury from alcohol by way of influencing TLR-4 signal transcription.
Xiong
Zong-bin
ZB
Department of Pathophysiology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan.
Wu
Ping
P
Huang
Yun-feng
YF
D000818:Animals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; D006519:Hepatitis, Alcoholic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing); D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; C496542:Hmox1 protein, mouse