title: Triptolide attenuates acute small-for-size liver graft injury in rats by inhibition of Toll-like receptor 4.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The mechanism underlying small-for-size graft failure after reperfusion is still unknown. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) has attracted a great deal of attention in inflammation and allograft rejection in recent years. Medicinally, triptolide has anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, and antineoplastic activities. In the present study, we studied the effect of triptolide on TLR4 expression in small-for-size grafts.
  
  
  METHODS
  The potential inhibitory effect of triptolide on TLR4 messenger ribonucleic acid and protein in a mouse model of small-for-size liver graft injury was assessed. We also assessed the expression of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-6 in this model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of hepatic TLR4 messenger ribonucleic acid and protein and downstream mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-6, were reduced in the triptolide pretreatment groups (50 and 100 μg) in small-for-size liver grafts. In these same triptolide pretreatment groups, edema and necrosis were reduced and the levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were significantly decreased in these small-for-size liver grafts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that triptolide might inhibit TLR4 in vivo and that pretreatment with triptolide could inhibit TLR4 activation and reduce small-for-size liver graft injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatal Surgery, Nanjing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Department of Radiology, Nanjing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatal Surgery, Nanjing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatal Surgery, Nanjing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatal Surgery, Nanjing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatal Surgery, Nanjing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatal Surgery, Nanjing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. Electronic address: wwjiang@njmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004224:Diterpenes; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C495347:Tlr4 protein, rat; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; C001899:triptolide