Toll-like receptor 5-mediated signaling enhances liver regeneration in mice
Abstract BackgroundToll-like receptor 5 (TLR5)-mediated pathways play critical roles in regulating hepatic immune response and show hepatoprotective effect in mouse models of hepatic diseases. However, the role of TLR5 in experimental models of liver regeneration has not been reported. This study aims to investigate the role of TLR5 in partial hepatectomy (PHx)-induced liver regeneration.MethodsWe performed 2/3 PHx in wild-type (WT) mice, TLR5 knockout mice, or TLR5 agonist CBLB502 treated mice as a model of liver regeneration. Bacterial flagellin content was measured by ELISA, and hepatic TLR5 expression was determined by quantitative PCR analyses and flow cytometry. To study the effects of TLR5 on hepatocyte proliferation, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression were analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. The effects of TLR5 during the priming phase of liver regeneration was examined by quantitative PCR analyses of immediate early gene mRNA levels, and western blot analysis of hepatic NF-κB and STAT3 activation. Cytokines and growth factors production after PHx were detected using real-time PCR analyses and cytometric bead array (CBA) assays. Oil Red O staining and hepatic lipid concentrations were analyzed to examine the effect of TLR5 on hepatic lipid accumulation after PHx.ResultsThe bacterial flagellin content in serum and liver was increased and the hepatic TLR5 expression was significantly up-regulated in WT mice upon PHx. TLR5-deficient mice exhibited reduced numbers of BrdU- and PCNA-positive cells, suppressed immediate early gene expression, and decreased cytokines and growth factors production. Moreover, PHx-induced hepatic NF-κB and STAT3 activation was inhibited in Tlr5−/− mice compared with WT mice. Consistently, the administration of CBLB502 significantly promoted PHx-mediated hepatocyte proliferation correlated with enhanced production of proinflammatory cytokines and the recruitment of macrophages and neutrophils in the liver. Besides, Tlr5−/− mice displayed significantly decreased hepatic lipid concentrations and Oil Red O positive areas compared to control mice after PHx.ConclusionWe reveal that TLR5 activation contributes to the initial events of liver regeneration after PHx. Our findings demonstrate that TLR5 signaling positively regulates liver regeneration and suggest a potential application of TLR5 agonist in promoting liver regeneration.