Xi-Yao Huang’s research while affiliated with Huazhong Agricultural University and other places

Background Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces acute liver injury and the complex mechanisms include the activation of toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway in many species. However, immuno-pathological changes during TLR4 signaling under LPS stress in acute liver injury is poorly understood in avian species. The present investigation was therefore carried out to evaluate these alterations in TLR4 signaling pathway during acute liver injury in young chickens. Results After intraperitoneal injection of LPS or saline, liver samples were harvested at 0, 2, 6, 12, 24, 36, 72 and 120 h (n = 6 at each time point) and the microstructures were analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and caspase-3 enzyme activity was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), single stranded DNA (ssDNA) and TLR4 protein expressions were determined by immunohistochemistry. Gene expressions of PCNA, caspase-3, caspase-8, TLR4 and its downstream molecules were analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). LPS injection induced significantly higher ALT activity, severe fatty degeneration, necrotic symptoms, ballooning degeneration, congestion, enhanced inflammatory cell infiltration in liver sinusoids, decreased proliferation, increased apoptosis and significant up-regulation in TLR4 and its downstream molecules (MyD88, NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β and TGF-β) expression at different time points. Conclusions This study indicated that TLR4 signaling and its downstream molecules along with certain cytokines play a key role in acute liver injury in young chickens. Hence, our findings provided novel information about the histopathological, proliferative and apoptotic alterations along with changes in ALT and caspase-3 activities associated with acute liver injury induced by Salmonella LPS in avian species.

Endotoxin or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure can cause injury to the respiratory airways and in response, the respiratory epithelia express toll like receptors (TLRs) in many species. However, its role in the innate immunity in the avian respiratory system is poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of LPS on the chicken trachea and lung. After intra peritoneal LPS or saline injection, the trachea and lungs were harvested at 0, 12, 36 and 72h (n=6 at each time point) and histopathologically analyzed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining, while TLR4 expression was determined by immunohistochemistry and secretory Immunoglobin A (SIgA) levels by ELISA. After LPS stimulation, we observed a remarkable decrease in the number of goblet cells along with obvious disruption and desquamation of the ciliated epithelium in the trachea, blurring of the boundary between pulmonary lobules, narrowed or indistinguishable lumen of the pulmonary atria and leukostasis in the lungs. Following LPS stimulation, TLR4 protein expression was up-regulated in both the trachea and the lungs and was found on the ciliated columnar cells as well as in the submucosa of the trachea, and in the lungs on parenchymal and immune cells. However, SIgA levels were only up-regulated in the trachea at 12h following LPS stimulation. Hence, this report provides novel information about the effects of LPS on the microstructure of the lower respiratory tract and it is concluded that its intra peritoneal administration leads to TLR4 mediated destruction of the tracheal epithelium and pulmonary inflammation along with increased SIgA expression in the tracheal mucosa.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play crucial roles in innate and adaptive immune responses to invading pathogens. TLR4 is responsible for the recognition of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in different parts of central nervous system of many vertebrates. To better understand the functions of TLR4 in cerebellum of chicken, present study was designed to identify the cell types that express TLR4 during postnatal stages as well as the changes in its expression in response to LPS challenge. For this purpose, cerebella were collected from chicken aged 1, 14 and 40 days (n=7 in each group) to analyze TLR4 distribution pattern. The cerebella from 14 chickens injected with LPS or sterilizing saline were also collected at Day 14 (n=7 in each group) to investigate changes in TLR4 expression. This expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry using an anti-TLR4 antibody. TLR4 was constitutively expressed in the Purkinje cell layer, pia mater, neurons in medulla and blood vessels in the cerebellum and LPS stimulation significantly up-regulated TLR4 expression on Day 14 in the chicken cerebellum. This study provides evidence that neurons in chicken cerebellum can express TLR4 in vivo and suggests that these neurons may play an important role in initiating a defense reaction via activation of TLR4. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.