Toll-like receptor 4 promotes autonomic dysfunction, inflammation and microglia activation in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus: role of endoplasmic reticulum stress

Authors

Gustavo S. Masson, Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Anand R. Nair, Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America.
Rahul B. Dange, Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America.
Pedro Paulo Silva-Soares, Department of Pharmacology, Fluminense Federal University, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
Lisete C. Michelini, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Joseph Francis, Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2015

Abstract

BACKGROUND & PURPOSE: Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling induces tissue pro-inflammatory cytokine release and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. We examined the role of TLR4 in autonomic dysfunction and the contribution of ER stress. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Our study included animals divided in 6 experimental groups: rats treated with saline (i.v., 0.9%), LPS (i.v., 10mg/kg), VIPER (i.v., 0.1 mg/kg), or 4-PBA (i.p., 10 mg/kg). Two other groups were pretreated either with VIPER (TLR4 viral inhibitory peptide) LPS + VIPER (i.v., 0.1 mg/kg) or 4-Phenyl butyric acid (4-PBA) LPS + PBA (i.p., 10 mg/kg). Arterial pressure (AP) and heart rate (HR) were measured in conscious Sprague-Dawley rats. AP, HR variability, as well as baroreflex sensitivity (BrS), was determined after LPS or saline treatment for 2 hours. Immunofluorescence staining for NeuN, Ib1a, TLR4 and GRP78 in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) was performed. TNF-α, TLR4 and GRP78 protein expression in the PVN were evaluated by western blot. Plasma norepinephrine levels were determined by ELISA. KEY RESULTS: Acute LPS treatment increased HR and plasma norepinephrine concentration. It also decreased HR variability and high frequency (HF) components of HR variability, as well BrS. Acute LPS treatment increased TLR4 and TNF-α protein expression in the PVN. These hemodynamic and molecular effects were partially abrogated with TLR4 blocker or ER stress inhibitor pretreatment. In addition, immunofluorescence study showed that TLR4 is co-localized with GRP78in the neurons. Further inhibition of TLR4 or ER stress was able to attenuate the LPS-induced microglia activation. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS: TLR4 signaling promotes autonomic dysfunction, inflammation and microglia activation, through neuronal ER stress, in the PVN.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

PloS one

First Page

e0122850

Recommended Citation

Masson, G. S., Nair, A. R., Dange, R. B., Silva-Soares, P. P., Michelini, L. C., & Francis, J. (2015). Toll-like receptor 4 promotes autonomic dysfunction, inflammation and microglia activation in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus: role of endoplasmic reticulum stress. PloS one, 10 (3), e0122850. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0122850