The effect of toll-like receptor 4 in the aqueous humor of endotoxin-induced uveitis

Abstract

In our previous study, we found that acute anterior uveitis (AAU) could be induced in wild-type mice (C3H/HeN), but it could not be induced in TLR4 gene-deficient mice (C3H/HeJ), we concluded that the translocation of transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) may play an important role. In this study, we examined the concentration of different cytokines in the aqueous humor of C3H/HeN mice and C3H/HeJ mice with the aim of exploring the role of different cytokines in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and TLR4-mediated signal transduction in the development of AAU.

Keywords: Anterior Uveitis; Cytokine; Toll-like receptor 4; aqueous humor; cytometric bead array technology.

Figure 1

The expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α in the aqueous humor at different time points (expressed as the mean μg/L ± SD). The concentration of TNF-α in the aqueous humor of C3H/HeN mice reached a peak 3 h after injection, then gradually decreased 12 h after injection, the concentration reached the second peak. After 48 h, TNF-α concentration in the aqueous humor returned to their original levels. The concentration of TNF-α in the aqueous humor of C3H/HeJ mice reached a peak 24 h after injection, then gradually decreased.

Figure 2

The expression levels of interleukin-1 in the aqueous humor at different time points (expressed as the mean μg/L ± SD). The concentration of IL-1 in the aqueous humor of C3H/HeN mice increased significantly 3 h after injection, reached a peak at 12 h after injection, then gradually decreased, and returned to its original concentration 48 h after injection. The concentration of IL-1 in the aqueous humor of C3H/HeJ mice reached a peak at 3 h after injection, then gradually decreased, and returned to its original concentration 48 h after injection.

Figure 3

The expression levels of interleukin-6 in the aqueous humor at different time points (expressed as the mean μg/L ± SD). The concentration of IL-6 in the aqueous humor of C3H/HeN mice reached a peak 24 h after injection, then gradually decreased. The concentration of IL-6 in the aqueous humor of C3H/HeJ mice reached a peak 24 h after injection, then gradually decreased.

Figure 4

The expression levels of interleukin-10 in the aqueous humor at different time points (expressed as the mean μg/L ± SD). In C3H/HeN mice, IL-10 reached a peak concentration 24 h after injection, and returned to its original concentration 48 h after injection. The peak concentration of interleukin-10 in C3H/HeJ mice is the control group; after LPS injection, the concentration decreased gradually, but 24 h after injection, the concentration reached its second peak, then decreased.

Figure 5

The expression levels of interferon-γ in the aqueous humor at different time points (expressed as the mean μg/L ± SD). In C3H/HeN mice, IFN-γ reached a peak concentration 24 h after injection, and returned to its original concentration at 48 h. The peak concentration of IFN-γ of C3H/HeJ mice was the original concentration, and the concentration decreased with LPS injection.