Role of TLR4/NF-κB pathway in the damage of acute hypobaric hypoxia to small intestinal mucosa in rats

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of acute hypobaric hypoxia (HH) exposure on small intestinal mucosa in rats and its underling mechanism. The pathological changes of rat small intestine mucosa were detected by HE staining. The expressions of TLR4 and NF-kappa B in the small intestine were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The levels of Zonulin, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-6 in the serum were detected by ELISA. The proportion of natural killer (NK) cells and dendritic cell population in the small intestine was analyzed by flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein levels of TLR4, NF-kappa B, occludin, HIF-1 alpha, and iNOS were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot, respectively. Compared with the Control group, the HH groups had different degrees of injury in intestinal mucosa. Meanwhile, in the HH groups, it was also found the increased levels of Zonulin, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-6 in the serum, the increased CD4(+)/CD8(+) T cells ratio and small intestine NK cells population, the increased mRNA and protein expression levels of small intestine TLR4, NF-kappa B, HIP-1 alpha and iNOS, and the decreased mRNA and protein expression levels of occludin. Acute HH may damage the intestinal mucosa of rats by inducing TLR4/NF-kappa B pathway overexpression.