Mechanisms of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-mediated inflammation after cold ischemia/reperfusion in the heart.

Background: Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling mediates early inflammation after cold ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). We hypothesized that the TLR4 coreceptor CD14, the intracellular adaptor proteins myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) and TIR domain-containing-adaptor inducing IFNbeta (TRIF) would be required for cold I/R induced inflammation. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a putative endogenous activator of TLR4. Therefore, we also assessed the contribution of HMGB1 in cold I/R induced inflammation.

Methods: Syngeneic heart transplants were performed in mice deficient in CD14, MyD88, TRIF, or wild-type mice. In other experiments, anti-HMGB1 neutralizing antibody or control IgG was administered at reperfusion. Donor hearts were subjected to 2 hr of cold ischemia and retrieved after 3 hr of reperfusion.

Results: After cold I/R, grafts revealed striking translocation of HMGB1 out of the nucleus in cardiac myocytes. Administration of an anti-HMGB1 neutralizing antibody resulted in reduced systemic interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) messenger RNA (mRNA) levels (P< or =0.05). Compared with controls, CD14 knock-out (KO) mice exhibited significantly lower (P< or =0.05) systemic IL-6 and JE/monocyte chemotractant protein-1 levels after cold I/R. Intragraft TNFalpha and IL-1beta mRNA levels were also significantly lower (P< or =0.05) in CD14 KO grafts. MyD88 KO mice exhibited significantly lower (P< or=0.05) systemic IL-6 levels compared with control mice after cold I/R. Intragraft TNFalpha, IL-6, and ICAM-1 mRNA levels were also significantly lower (P< or =0.05) in MyD88 KO grafts. Significantly lower levels (P< or =0.05) of serum IL-6, monocyte chemotractant protein-1 as well as intragraft TNFalpha, IL-6, IL-1beta, and ICAM-1 were observed after cold I/R in TRIF deficient animals compared with controls.

Conclusions: CD14, MyD88, TRIF, and HMGB1 contribute to the inflammatory response that occurs after cold I/R. These results provide insight into the mechanisms of TLR4-mediated inflammation after cold I/R.