Effect of remifentanil on Toll-like receptor 2 mRNA expression during renal ischemia-reperfusion in rats / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the effect of remifentanil on Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) mRNA expression during renal ischemia-reperfusion (Ⅰ/R) in rats.Methods Fifty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 200-250 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=18 each) using a random number tablesham operation group (group S),Ⅰ/R group and remifentanil group (group R).Renal Ⅰ/R injury was produced by clamping the bilateral renal arteries for 45 min followed by reperfusion in Ⅰ/R and R groups.Bilateral renal arteries were only exposed but not clamped in group S.Remifentanil 1.0 μg · kg-1 · min-1 was infused via the tail vein starting from 15 min before ischemia until 30 min of reperfusion in group R,while the equal volume of normal saline was given instead in S and Ⅰ/R groups.The animals were sacrificed at 15 min before ischemia and 6 and 24 h of reperfusion,and the renal specimens were obtained for examination of the pathological changes (with light microscope) and for determination of the contents of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) (by ELISA) and expression of TLR2 mRNA (by RT-PCR) and cell apoptosis (by double staining and flow eytometry).The apoptotic rate was calculated.Results Compared with group S,TLR2 mRNA expression was significantly up-regulated,and the contents of TNF-α and IL-6 and apoptotic rate were increased at 6 and 24 h of reperfusion in Ⅰ/R and R groups.Compared with group Ⅰ/R,TLR2 mRNA expression was significantly down-regulated,and the contents of TNF-α and IL-6 and apoptotic rate were decreased at 6 and 24 h of reperfusion in group R.The pathological changes were significantly attenuated in group R as compared with group Ⅰ/R.Conclusion The mechanism by which remifentanil reduces renal Ⅰ/R injury is related to down-regulation of TLR2 expression and decrease in TLR2 activity and inhibition of inflammatory responses in renal tissues and cell apoptosis in rats.