Activation of TLR3 pathway in the pathogenesis of nephrotic syndrome induced by respiratory syncytial virus in rat model

Objective To explore the activation of toll-like receptor 3(TLR3) pathway on the process of respiratory syncytial virus(RSV) induced nephropathy.Methods SD rats were inoculated intranasally and intraperitoneally with 6×106 plaque forming unit(PFU) RSV and sacrificed on days 4,14,30 postinoculation(RSV4,RSV14 and RSV30).The normal rats without intervention were set as control.Renal tissues were obtained,and the morphological changes were studied.The expressions of TLR3,NF-κB and IL-13 in the rats' kidney were measured with real-time quantitative RT-PCR,and indirect IF staining.Results After the inoculation of RSV,the rats had proteinuria and the fusion of foot processes of glomerular epithelial cells,resembling human minimal changed nephrotic syndrome(MCNS).The expressions of TLR3,NF-κB and IL-13 in renal tissues increased obviously at Day 4 and Day 14 postinoculation,the differences were significant when compared with normal control rats(P0.05.The expressions of these three factors decreased at Day 30, which were not significantly different to those of normal control group(P0.05).Conclsuion TLR3 signal pathway may play an important role in early stage of RSV nephropathy.