TLR4 Deficiency Exacerbates Biliary Injuries and Peribiliary Fibrosis Caused by in a Resistant Mouse Strain.

Mice with different genetic backgrounds have various susceptibilities to infection with , although the mechanisms underlying are largely unknown. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) as one of the most important pattern recognition receptors (PPRs) is essential for the invasion, survival, pathogenesis, and elimination of worms. The roles played by TLR4 in infection may vary due to the different genetic backgrounds of mice.

The roles of Toll-like receptor 4 in the pathogenesis of pathogen-associated biliary fibrosis caused by Clonorchis sinensis.

Pathogen-associated biliary fibrosis (PABF) is a type of liver fibrosis characterized by injuries of cholangiocytes and extra cellular matrix (ECM) deposition around bile ducts caused by various bacteria, fungi, virus and parasites. Recent studies show that TLR4 plays an important role in several other types of liver fibrosis, but the mechanism of TLR4 in PABF is yet really unclear. In the present study, a PABF mouse model was established by a trematode infection-Clonorchis sinensis which dwells in the bile ducts and causes severe biliary fibrosis of mice.

Fabrication of multiwalled carbon nanotube-polyaniline/platinum nanocomposite films toward improved performance for a cholesterol amperometric biosensor.

A simple and high sensitive cholesterol amperometric biosensor, which is based on in situ electropolymerization of multi-walled carbon nanotube-polyaniline (MWCNT-PANI) nanocomposite and electrodeposition of platinum nanoparticle (nano-Pt) films onto the glassy carbon electrode surface for cholesterol oxidase immobilization, was constructed in this study. The preparation process of the modified electrode was characterized by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and chronoamperometry. Because of the synergistic electrocatalytic activity between MWCNT-PANI nanocomposites and nano-Pt, the cholesterol biosensor exhibited an excellent performance with a linear range of 2.

Expression and potential roles of IL-33/ST2 in the immune regulation during Clonorchis sinensis infection.

During clonorchiasis, immune responses of hosts are responsible for the removal of the worms and also are involved in the progress of the pathological damage caused by Clonorchis sinensis. Interleukin-33 (IL-33), a recently described cytokine signaling through the ST2 receptor, has emerged as a potent inducer to bile duct proliferation and fibrosis; however, little is known of this signaling in the pathogen-caused periductal inflammation and fibrosis. In the present study, using immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and flow cytometry, we studied the expression of IL-33/ST2 during C.

Clonorchis sinensis excretory/secretory products promote the secretion of TNF-alpha in the mouse intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells via Toll-like receptor 4.

Background: Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), as one of the most important pathogen pattern recognitions (PPRs) plays a central role in elicitation of innate immunity and mediation of adaptive responses against foreign antigens. However, little is known of the roles of TLR4 in the immune responses of biliary epithelial cells (BECs) induced by Clonorchis sinensis, a parasite of significance in human health.

Methods: In the present study, the primary mouse intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells (MIBECs) were pre-treated with TLR4 inhibitor peptide or control peptide and then stimulated by excretory/secretory products (ESP) of C.