Effect of lipopolysaccharide on mRNA expression of Toll-like receptor 4 and CD14 in lens epithelial cells

AIM:To investigate the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the mRNA expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and CD14 in lens epithelial cells (LECs).METHODS: The cultured LECs were incubated with defferent concentrations of LPS for defferent times.The mRNA expression of TLR4 and CD14 in LECs were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).RESULTS: The mRNA expression of TLR4 in the LECs treated with LPS at concentrations of 50 μg/L,100 μg/L,200 μg/L,500 μg/L or 1 000 μg/L was higher than that in the LECs without LPS treatment (P0.01),respectively.The mRNA expression of TLR4 in the LECs incubated with 100 μg/L LPS for 24 h,48 h or 72 h was higher than that in LECs without LPS treatment at same time points (P0.01).The mRNA expression of CD14 in the LECs incubated with LPS at concentration of 100 μg/L for 24 h was also higher than that in the LECs without LPS treatment (P0.01).CONCLUSION: LPS enhances the mRNA expression of TLR4 and CD14 in LECs,which may be related to intraocular response,as well as to the formation and development of after-cataract.