• BRIEF REPORTS • Expression of toll-like receptor 4 and MD-2 gene and protein in Kupffer cells after ischemia-reperfusion in rat liver graft

AIM: To investigate the expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and MD-2 gene and protein in Kupffer cells (KCs) and their role in ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury of rat liver graft. METHODS: KCs were isolated at 0 (control group), 2, 12, 24 h (IR group) following IR in rat liver graft. mRNA expression of TLR4 and MD-2 was detected by RT-PCR analysis, protein expression of TLR4/MD-2 was detected by flow cytometric (FCM) analysis, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) level in supernatant was measured by ELISA. Then isolated KCs were incubated with anti-TLR4 polyclonal antibody (anti-TLR4 group), and TNF-α level was measured again. RESULTS: The mRNA and protein expression of TLR4/MD-2 and the level of TNF-α in IR group increased significantl