TLR4/NF-κB Pathway Play A Potent Role In The Restenosis

Objective: In this study, the expression of Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) and NF-κB were observed in the model of vascular restenosis established by balloon injury .Furthermore the effects of atorvastatin on neoitmal proliferation and expression of TLR4 and NF-κB were also examined.The ultimate is to explore a possible role for TLR4/NF-κB pathway in the developing of restenosis.Methods: 56 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups. Groups 1: Atorvastatin treatment group (1 week n=7), Groups 2: without Atorvastatin treatment group (1 week n=7),Groups 3: Atorvastatin treatment group (2 week n=7), Groups 4: without Atorvastatin treatment group (2 week n=7), Groups C:unjured artery of the same rat was used to be control. Balloon catheter denudation of the endothelium in the common carotid artery of the rat was routinely used as a model of restenosis. Immunohistochemistry and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain (RT-PCR),Western blot were used to detect the the expression of TLR4 and NF-κB on rat carotid arteries at different group.Results: The proliferation of vascular Smooth muscle cell(VSMC) existed on the surface of vascular lumen on 1 week after endothelium denudation. TLR4 and NF-κB were stained on SMC of neointimal.The level of TLR4 mRNA and protein of carotid arteries were increase compared with that in the control group. After 2 weeks, the neointimal were significantly hyperplasia, the lumen were striking stenosis. Immunostain of TLR4 and NF-κB were mostly positive in the neointimal cells. The level of TLR4 mRNA and protein of carotid arteries were...