title: [Perindopril and losartan attenuate intrahepatic Toll-like receptor 4 protein expression in rats with bile duct ligation-induced hepatic fibrosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in the liver tissue of rats with bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced hepatic fibrosis and evaluate the inhibitory effects of perindopril and losartan on TLR4 expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar Rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group (n=6), BDL group, perindopril treatment group (2 mg/kg) and losartan treatment group (50 mg/kg) (n=12). Perindopril and losartan groups were further divided into two subgroups for corresponding treatments by gastric lavage once daily for 14 and 30 days. The protein level of TLR4 in the liver tissue was examined by Western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 14-day BDL group, the protein level of TLR4 significantly increased to 6.53∓1.11 folds of that in the sham group (P<0.05), and was lowered significantly to 1.71∓0.41 folds and 0.95∓0.38 folds following perindopril and losartan treatments for 14 days. TLR4 expression significantly increased to 6.51∓0.87 folds and 5.64∓0.87 folds of that of the sham group in perindopril and losartan groups after the 30-day treatments (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TLR4 expression is up-regulated in the liver of rats with BDL-induced hepatic fibrosis, and can be lowered by perindopril and losartan treatmemts for 14 days.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China. Nishuyuan@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Shuyuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Yushen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Cui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000601:surgery; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D008026:Ligation; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019808:Losartan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D020913:Perindopril / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C495347:Tlr4 protein, rat; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D019808:Losartan; D020913:Perindopril