Background: Binding lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with high-affinity, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) and CD14 lower the threshold stimulatory concentrations of LPS dramatically and enhance the rate of cytokine production markedly. This study aimed to investigate the kinetic expression of LBP/CD14 and its possible relationship with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) to better understand the pathophysiology of obstructive jaundice.
Materials and methods: The tissues (liver, spleen, intestine, and lung) of male Sprague-Dawley rats were harvested at pre-bile duct ligation in controls and at specific time points (24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hr) after bile duct ligation. LBP, CD14, and TNF-α mRNA expression were measured in tissues harvested from controls and at the specific time points.
Results: Hepatic LBP mRNA expression increased significantly at five days after bile duct ligation. CD 14 mRNA expression increased significantly after five days of bile duct ligation in liver, lung, spleen, and ileum. TNF-α mRNA expression increased significantly in all four organs (liver, lung, spleen, and ileum) after four days of bile duct ligation.
Conclusion: Five days of bile duct ligation upregulated CD 14 mRNA expression in liver, lung, spleen, and ileum and increased TNF-α mRNA expression simultaneously in the liver, lung, spleen, and ileum. In addition, five days of bile duct ligation also upregulated LBP mRNA expression in the liver and increased hepatic TNF-α mRNA expression simultaneously. The kinetic expressions of LBP and CD 14 in obstructive jaundice are intriguing and further evaluation is warranted.
Keywords: CD14; RNA; antigens; cytokines; genes; jaundice; lipopolysaccharide-binding protein; messenger; obstructive.