[Role of toll like receptor 4 in low shear stress-induced intimal hyperplasia]

To determine the role of toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) in intimal hyperplasia induced by low shear stress (LSS).

TLR4(-/-) mice and control mice C57BL/6J were used. Polyethylene cuff was placed on murine carotid to establishing a LSS model. Cultured vascular endothelial cells under LSS condition were used as an in vitro LSS cell model. Intimal hyperplasia was evaluated pathologically. TLR4 was tested by Western blot and the expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA were detected using RT-PCR. Cell proliferation was determined by detecting DNA synthesis.

LSS elicited significant carotid intimal hyperplasia in normal mice but a slight neointima formation in TLR4(-/-) mice (42.67 ± 16.46 vs 7.03 ± 2.95, P < 0.05). LSS upregulated the expression of TLR4 (2.30 ± 0.66 vs 0.16 ± 0.10, P < 0.05), as well as the mRNA of IL-1β (6.52 ± 3.15 vs 1.65 ± 0.45, P < 0.01), IL-6 (16.17 ± 7.49 vs 6.50 ± 1.84, P < 0.01) and TNF-α(9.98 ± 3.77 vs 2.72 ± 1.03, P < 0.01) in normal mice. However, only moderate increases in IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA were observed in TLR4(-/-) mice. LSS induced the proliferation in cultured endothelial cells. And it was further enhanced by TLR4 overexpression (177 ± 33 vs 83 ± 15, P < 0.05) but attenuated by TLR4 silencing (40 ± 8 vs 83 ± 15, P < 0.05).

TLR4 plays an important role in LSS-induced intimal hyperplasia. It is likely that LSS induces the proliferation of endothelial cells through TLR4-mediated inflammatory reaction and ultimately promotes intimal hyperplasia.