Obstructive jaundice increases sensitivity to lipopolysaccharide via TLR4 upregulation: Possible involvement in gut‐derived hepatocyte growth factor‐protection of hepatocytes

Abstract

Obstructive jaundice and LPS stimulation induced TLR4 upregulation both in the liver and small intestine, which led to increased TNF-alpha and IL-6 production in liver and HGF production in the small intestine. The upregulation of TLR4 may lead to pathological and host defense reactions in obstructive jaundice complicated with Gram-negative bacterial infection.