Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of inhibition of tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6) gene expression on hepatic nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB)-related protein expression in rats with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Methods 40 rats were randomly divided into four groups, with 10 in each. The model of AIH was established in SD rats by specific antigen S-100, and the model rats were transfected with empty vector or TRAF6 shRNA vector. The expression of TRAF6-related proteins were detected by immunohistochemistry. The level of TRAF6 mRNA was detected by qRT-PCR. The IL-1β and IL-6 levels in liver homogenates were detected by ELISA. The expression of NF-κB signaling pathway related proteins in liver tissues was detected by Western blot. Results The hepatic TRAF6 mRNA level in model was (6.2±0.4), significantly higher than (1.0±0.2, P＜0.05) in control, while that in TRAF6 shRNA-intervened group decreased greatly as compared to in the model [(1.5±0.2), P＜0.05]; the liver homogenate IL-1βand IL-6 levels in the model were (60.3±8.1)pg/mL and (41.5±5.9)pg/mL, both significantly higher than [(8.9±0.6)pg/mL and (15.6±0.6)pg/mL, respectively, P＜0.05] in the control; the relative hepatic expression of IκBα, NF-κB p65, NF-κB p50, p-NF-κB p65 and p-NF-κB p50 in the model were (1.3±0.1), (1.6±0.1), (1.3±0.1), (1.3±0.1) and (1.1±0.1), all significantly higher than [(0.3±0.03), (0.3±0.02), (0.3±0.03), (0.3±0.03) and (0.3±0.03), P＜0.05] in the control, while they all significantly decreased in TRAF6-intervened group [(1.0±0.1),(0.9±0.05),(0.7±0.1),(0.8±0.1) and (0.5±0.05), P＜0.05] as compared to those in the model. Conclusion Inhibition TRAF6 gene expression could down-regulate the NF-κB signaling pathway, which might reduce liver inflammation of rats with AIH.

Key words: Autoimmune hepatitis, tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 6, Nuclear factor kappa-B signaling pathway, Rats