The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)represents a global health and economic challenge.Hepatic injuries have been approved to be associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus(SARS-CoV-2)infection.The ...The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)represents a global health and economic challenge.Hepatic injuries have been approved to be associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus(SARS-CoV-2)infection.The viral tropism pattern of SARS-CoV-2 can induce hepatic injuries either by itself or by worsening the conditions of patients with hepatic diseases.Besides,other factors have been reported to play a crucial role in the pathological forms of hepatic injuries induced by SARS-CoV-2,including cytokine storm,hypoxia,endothelial cells,and even some treatments for COVID-19.On the other hand,several groups of people could be at risk of hepatic COVID-19 complications,such as pregnant women and neonates.The present review outlines and discusses the interplay between SARS-CoV-2 infection and hepatic injury,hepatic illness comorbidity,and risk factors.Besides,it is focused on the vaccination process and the role of developed vac-cines in preventing hepatic injuries due to SARS-CoV-2 infection.展开更多
BACKGROUND The clinical and histological features of chronic hepatitis B(CHB)patients who fall into the"grey zone(GZ)"and do not fit into conventional natural phases are unclear.AIM To explore the impact of ...BACKGROUND The clinical and histological features of chronic hepatitis B(CHB)patients who fall into the"grey zone(GZ)"and do not fit into conventional natural phases are unclear.AIM To explore the impact of varying the threshold of alanine aminotransferase(ALT)levels in identifying significant liver injury among GZ patients.METHODS This retrospective analysis involved a cohort of 1617 adult patients diagnosed with CHB who underwent liver biopsy.The clinical phases of CHB patients were determined based on the European Association for the Study of the Liver 2017 Clinical Practice Guidelines.GZ CHB patients were classified into four groups:GZ-A(HBeAg positive,normal ALT levels,and HBV DNA≤10^(7) IU/mL),GZ-B(HBeAg positive,elevated ALT levels,and HBV DNA<10^(4) or>10^(7) IU/mL),GZC(HBeAg negative,normal ALT levels,and HBV DNA≥2000 IU/mL),and GZ-D(HBeAg negative,elevated ALT levels,and HBV DNA≤2000 IU/mL).Significant hepatic injury(SHI)was defined as the presence of notable liver inflammation(≥G2)and/or significant fibrosis(≥S2).RESULTS The results showed that 50.22%of patients were classified as GZ,and 63.7%of GZ patients developed SHI.The study also found that lowering the ALT treatment thresholds to the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases 2018 treatment criteria(35 U/L for men and 25 U/L for women)can more accurately identify patients with significant liver damage in the GZ phases.In total,the proportion of patients with ALT≤40 U/L who required antiviral therapy was 64.86%[(221+294)/794].When we lowered the ALT treatment threshold to the new criteria(30 U/L for men and 19 U/L for women),the same outcome was revealed,and the proportion of patients with ALT≤40 U/L who required antiviral therapy was 75.44%[(401+198)/794].Additionally,the proportion of SHI was 49.1%in patients under 30 years old and increased to 55.3%in patients over 30 years old(P=0.136).CONCLUSION These findings suggest the importance of redefining the natural phases of CHB and using new ALT treatment thresholds for better diagnosis and management of CHB patients in the GZ phases.展开更多
Liver diseases with the central pathogenetic mechanism of oxidative stress are one of the main causes of mortality worldwide.Therefore,dihydroquinoline derivatives,which are precursors of hepatoprotectors and have ant...Liver diseases with the central pathogenetic mechanism of oxidative stress are one of the main causes of mortality worldwide.Therefore,dihydroquinoline derivatives,which are precursors of hepatoprotectors and have antioxidant activity,are of interest.We have previously found that some compounds in this class have the ability to normalize redox homeostasis under experimental conditions.Here,we initially analyzed the hepatoprotective potential of the dihydroquinoline derivative 1-benzoyl-6-hydroxy-2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline(BHDQ)for carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)-induced liver injury in rats.Results suggested that BHDQ normalized the alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in serum.We also observed an improvement in liver tissue morphology related to BHDQ.Animals with CCl4-induced liver injuries treated with BHDQ had less oxidative stress compared to animals with CCl4-induced liver injury.BHDQ promoted activation changes in superoxide dismutase,catalase,glutathione peroxidase,glutathione reductase,and glutathione transferase on control values in animals with CCl4-induced liver injury.BHDQ also activated gene transcription in Sod1 and Gpx1 via nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and forkhead box protein O1 factors.Therefore,the compound of concern has a hepatoprotective effect by inhibiting the development of necrotic processes in the liver tissue,through antioxidation.展开更多
BACKGROUND:Stem cell transplantation provides a theoretical approach for liver regeneration medicine;it may promote liver regeneration and self-repair.However,the transplantation of bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cells ...BACKGROUND:Stem cell transplantation provides a theoretical approach for liver regeneration medicine;it may promote liver regeneration and self-repair.However,the transplantation of bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cells expanded ex vivo as a therapy for liver disease has rarely been investigated.This study aimed to explore whether bone marrow stem cells expanded ex vivo home to the liver and foster hepatic recovery after CCl 4 injury.METHODS:Bone marrow cells from BALB/c mice were expanded ex vivo by multiple-passage cultivation,characterized by cytoflow immunofluorescence,and pre-labeled with PKH26 before intravenous infusion into animals treated with CCl 4.The integration of bone marrow cells into the liver was examined microscopically,and plasma hepatic enzymes were determined biochemically.RESULTS:Cultured bone marrow cells exhibited antigenic profiles comparable to those of primary medullary stem cells.Double immunofluorescence showed colocalization of these cells with proliferative activity and albumin expression in the liver of CCl 4 -treated mice.Densitometry showed increased in situ cell proliferation (50±14 vs 20±3 cells/high-power field,P<0.05) and albumin expression (149±25 vs 20±5 cells/high-power field,P<0.05) in the liver,as well as reduced serum aminotransferase levels (P<0.05) and better survival rates (P<0.05) in animals receiving cultured bone marrow cells relative to controls.CONCLUSIONS:Ex vivo-expanded bone marrow cells are capable of relocating to and proliferating in the chemically- injured liver.Transplantation of these pluripotent stem cells appears to improve serum indices of liver function and survival rate in mice after CCl4-induced hepatic damage.展开更多
AIM:To explore the effects of curcumin(CMN)on hepatic injury induced by acetaminophen(APAP)in vivo.METHODS:Male mice were randomly divided into three groups:groupⅠ(control)mice received the equivalent volumes of phos...AIM:To explore the effects of curcumin(CMN)on hepatic injury induced by acetaminophen(APAP)in vivo.METHODS:Male mice were randomly divided into three groups:groupⅠ(control)mice received the equivalent volumes of phosphate-buffered saline(PBS)intraperitoneally(ip);GroupⅡ[APAP+carboxymethylcellulose(CMC)]mice received 1%CMC(vehicle)2h before APAP injection;GroupⅢ(APAP+CMN)mice received curcumin(10 or 20 mg/kg,ip)2 h before before or after APAP challenge.In GroupsⅡandⅢ,APAP was dissolved in pyrogen-free PBS and injected at a single dose of 300 mg/kg.CMN was dissolved in 1%CMC.Mice were sacrificed 16 h after the APAP injection to determine alanine aminotransferase(ALT)levels in serum and malondialdehyde(MDA)accumulation,superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity and hepatocyte apoptosis in liver tissues.RESULTS:Both pre-and post-treatment with curcumin resulted in a significant decrease in serum ALT compared with APAP treatment group(10 mg/kg:801.46±661.34 U/L;20 mg/kg:99.68±86.48 U/L vs 5406.80±1785.75 U/L,P<0.001,respectively).The incidence of liver necrosis was significantly lowered in CMN treated animals.MDA contents were significantly reduced in 20 mg/kg CMN pretreatment group,but increased in APAP treated group(10.96±0.87 nmol/mg protein vs 16.03±2.58 nmol/mg protein,P<0.05).The decrease of SOD activity in APAP treatment group and the increase of SOD in 20 mg/kg CMN pretreatment group were also detected(24.54±4.95 U/mg protein vs 50.21±1.93 U/mg protein,P<0.05).Furthermore,CMN treatment efficiently protected against APAPinduced apoptosis via increasing Bcl-2/Bax ratio.CONCLUSION:CMN has significant therapeutic potential in both APAP-induced hepatotoxicity and other types of liver diseases.展开更多
AIM To explore the protective effects and mechanisms of naringenin(NRG) on hepatic injury induced by isoniazid(INH) and rifampicin(RIF).METHODS Male mice were randomly divided into four groups and treated for 14 d as ...AIM To explore the protective effects and mechanisms of naringenin(NRG) on hepatic injury induced by isoniazid(INH) and rifampicin(RIF).METHODS Male mice were randomly divided into four groups and treated for 14 d as follows: normal control group was administered intragastrically with normal saline solution alone; model group was administered intragastrically with INH(100 mg/kg) and RIF(100 mg/kg); lowand high-dosage NRG pretreatment groups were administered intragastrically with different doses of NRG(50 or 100 mg/kg) 2 h before INH and RIF challenge. Mice were killed 16 h after the last dose of drug treatment to determine activity of serum transaminases. Oxidative stress was evaluated by measuring hepatic glutathione(GSH) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) and malondialdehyde(MDA) levels. Histopathological changes in hepatic tissue were observed under the optical microscope. Hepatocyte apoptosis was measured by TUNEL assay and caspase-3 activation. Expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in liver was determined by western blot.RESULTS Both low- and high-dosage NRG pretreatment obviously alleviated serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, liver index, hepatic MDA content, and increased hepatic GSH content and SOD activity compared with the INH and RIF-treated group(44.71 ± 8.15 U/L, 38.22 ± 6.64 U/L vs 58.15 ± 10.54 U/L; 98.36 ± 14.78 U/L, 92.41 ± 13.59 U/L vs 133.05 ± 19.36 U/L; 5.34% ± 0.26%, 4.93% ± 0.25% vs 5.71% ± 0.28%; 2.76 ± 0.67 nmol/mgprot, 2.64 ± 0.64 nmol/mgprot vs 4.49 ± 1.12 nmol/mgprot; 5.91 ± 1.31 mg/gprot, 6.42 ± 1.42 mg/gprot vs 3.11 ± 0.73 mg/gprot; 137.31 ± 24.62 U/mgprot, 148.83 ± 26.75 U/mgprot vs 102.34 ± 19.22 U/mgprot; all P < 0.01 or 0.05). Histopathological evaluation showed obvious necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration in liver of mice administered INH and RIF; however, mice pretreated with NRG showed minor hepatic injury. In addition, INH and RIF resulted in hepatocyte apoptosis, and NRG pretreatment dramatically suppressed INHand RIF-induced hepatocytes apoptosis. Furthermore, NRG-mediated anti-apoptotic effects seemed to be in connection with its regulation of Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression in hepatic tissue.CONCLUSION NRG might attenuate INH- and RIF-induced hepatic injury via suppression of oxidative stress and hepatocyte apoptosis.展开更多
BACKGROUND: Fructose is cytoprotective during bile salt-induced apoptosis of hepatocytes by regulating protein kinase C (PKC). This study was undertaken to explore the regulating mechanism of hepatic injury in rats wi...BACKGROUND: Fructose is cytoprotective during bile salt-induced apoptosis of hepatocytes by regulating protein kinase C (PKC). This study was undertaken to explore the regulating mechanism of hepatic injury in rats with obstructive jaundice, and to detect the PKC signal pathway. METHODS: Rat hepatocytes were isolated by in situ colla-genase perfusion and primary culture, and pretreated with various concentrations of PKC agonist phorbol myristate acetale (PMA) and inhibitor chelerythrine for 20 minutes. After pretreatment, 50 μmol/L glycochenodeoxycholate (GCDC) was added for additional 24 hours. Subsequently, the cells were detected by FCM and TUNEL. After adding with different concentrations of fructose and 100 μmol GCDC , the hepatocytes were evaluated by FCM and TUNEL. Experimental obstructive jaundice was induced with fructose and without fructose via double ligation of the bile duct for 3, 7, 14, and 21 days. Apoptotic status in the liver of all rats was detected with TUNEL, and PKC protein in the liver of obstructive jaundice ( OJ) with the immunohisto-chemistry method. RESULTS: PMA increased GCDC-induced apoptosis and chelerythrine decreased GCDC-induced apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. Adding with different concentration of fructose and 100 μmol GCDC, the decreased apoptotic rate was related to the concentration of fructose. The apoptotic rate of the liver was related to times of OJ. PKC and apoptosis index (AI) were the highest after a 14-day ligation of the bile duct without use of fructose. AI and PKC were decreasing from a 14-day ligation of the bile duct with fructose. CONCLUSIONS: PKC takes part in the regulation, occurrence , and progression of hepatic injury in OJ. Fructose is cytoprotective during bile salt-induced apoptosis of hepato-cytes by regulating PKC.展开更多
BACKGROUND:Increasing evidence suggests that a close interaction of Kupffer cells with T cells plays a central role in concanavalin A-induced hepatic injury in mice,but the underlying mechanisms remain obscure.The pre...BACKGROUND:Increasing evidence suggests that a close interaction of Kupffer cells with T cells plays a central role in concanavalin A-induced hepatic injury in mice,but the underlying mechanisms remain obscure.The present study aimed to determine the relative roles of Th1 and Th17 type responses in concanavalin A-induced hepatic injury in mice, and to investigate whether or not Kupffer cells contribute to hepatic injury via a Th1 or Th17 type response-dependent pathway. METHODS:Immune-mediated hepatic injury was induced in C57BL/6 mice by intravenous injection of concanavalin A. Kupffer cells were inactivated by pretreatment with gadolinium chloride 24 hours before the concanavalin A injection.The interferon-gamma(IFN-γ)and interleukin-17(IL-17)pathways were blocked by specific neutralizing antibodies.Hepatic injury was assessed using serum transferase activity and pathological analysis.Expression of inflammatory cytokines within the liver was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS:Neutralization of IFN-γsignificantly attenuated concanavalin A-induced hepatic injury.However,neutralization of IL-17 failed to suppress the injury.Inactivation of Kupffer cells by gadolinium chloride pretreatment protected against concanavalin A-induced injury and significantly reduced hepatic cytokine levels including TNF-α,IL-6 and IFN-γbut not IL-17.CONCLUSION:Our findings suggest that Kupffer cells contribute to concanavalin A-induced hepatic injury via a Th1 type response-dependent pathway and production of inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α,IL-6 and IFN-γ.展开更多
AIM: To test whether hepatic stellate cells(HSCs) at different activation stages play different roles in acetaminophen(APAP)-induced acute liver injury(ALI).METHODS: HSCs were isolated from mouse liver and cultured in...AIM: To test whether hepatic stellate cells(HSCs) at different activation stages play different roles in acetaminophen(APAP)-induced acute liver injury(ALI).METHODS: HSCs were isolated from mouse liver and cultured in vitro.Morphological changes of initiation HSCs [HSCs(5d)] and perpetuation HSCs [HSCs(p3)] were observed by immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy.The protective effects of HSCderived molecules, cell lysates and HSC-conditioned medium(HSC-CM) were tested in vivo by survival and histopathological analyses.Liver injury was determined by measuring aminotransferase levels in the serum and by histologic examination of tissue sections under a light microscope.Additionally, to determine the molecular mediators of the observed protective effects of initiation HSCs, we examined HSC-CM using a highdensity protein array.RESULTS: HSCs(5d) and HSCs(p3) had different morphological and phenotypic traits.HSCs(5d) presented a star-shaped appearance with expressing α-SMA at non-uniform levels between cells.However, HSCs(p3) evolved into myofibroblast-like cells without lipid droplets and expressed a uniform and higher level of α-SMA.HSC-CM(5d), but not HSC-CM(p3), provided a significant survival benefit and showed a dramatic reduction of hepatocellular necrosis and panlobular leukocyte infiltrates in mice exposed to APAP.However, this protective effect was abrogated at higher cell masses, indicating a therapeutic window of effectiveness.Furthermore, the protein array screenrevealed that HSC-CM(5d) was composed of many chemokines and growth factors that correlated with inflammatory inhibition and therapeutic activity.When compared with HSC-CM(p3), higher levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, macrophage inflammatory protein-1γ, hepatocyte growth factor, interleukin-10, and matrix metalloproteinase-2, but lower levels of stem cell factor and Fas-Ligand were observed in HSCCM(5d).CONCLUSION: These data indicated that initiation HSCs and perpetuation HSCs were different in morphology and protein expression, and provided the first experimental evidence of the potential medical value of initiation HSC-derived molecules in the treatment of ALI.展开更多
To evaluate hepatic injury induced by antituberculosis drugs(ATDs) when administered orally for 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks and the therapeutic potential of propolis(bee hive product) against ATDs induced hepatic injury. Meth...To evaluate hepatic injury induced by antituberculosis drugs(ATDs) when administered orally for 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks and the therapeutic potential of propolis(bee hive product) against ATDs induced hepatic injury. Methods: The ATDs were administered for 8 weeks as well as propolis extract at three different doses(100, 200, 400 mg/kg) conjointly for 8 weeks in rats. Silymarin(50 mg/kg) was given as positive control. Animals were euthanized after 8 weeks; blood and liver samples were collected to perform various biochemicals, serological and histopathological and ultramorphological studies. Results: Significant increase(P < 0.05) in aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, triglyceride and cholesterol along with reduction in glucose and albumin level were noted after ATDs induced hepatic injury. Significant increase(P < 0.05) in lipid peroxidation, triglyceride, cholesterol and CYP2E1 activity; decline in reduced glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, glucose-6-phosphatase dehydrogenase activity were observed after ATDs intoxication. Due to presence of a wide range of flavonoids and polyphenols in propolis extract, its administration reduced hepatic injury and maintained biochemical indices towards control. Histopathological and electron microscopic observations indicated hepatoprotective potential of propolis at cellular level whereas, TNF-α, IL-6 and IGF-1 confirmed therapeutic potential of propolis at molecular level. Conclusions: It can be concluded that propolis possess hepatoprotective potential against ATDs induced hepatic injury that may prove itself as a clinically useful natural product in management of drug induced liver injury.展开更多
Objective: To investigate the changes of scavenger re-ceptor （SR） and CD<sub>14</sub> in Kupffer cells in endotox-emia in order to uncover the mechanism of the liverto turn a defense organ into effector ...Objective: To investigate the changes of scavenger re-ceptor （SR） and CD<sub>14</sub> in Kupffer cells in endotox-emia in order to uncover the mechanism of the liverto turn a defense organ into effector one in sepsis.Methods: Mouse models of endotoxemia of differentseverity were reproduced by injection of different do-ses of lipopolysaccharide （LPS） via the tail vein.The expression of SR and CD<sub>14</sub> in the liver was as-sayed by immunohistochemistry and was subsequent-ly analyzed with an image analysis system. The levelsof TNF-α and IL-6 in liver tissue were determinedwith ELISA.Results: The expression of SR in the liver in the high-dose group was markedly decreased one hour afterinjection of LPS, and also in the low-dose group at 3hours. The expression of SR in the liver in the twogroups was shown to be progressively decreased withthe time prolonged. There was significant differencein average optical density （OD） values of SR be-tween the two groups. The expression of CD<sub>14</sub> in thetwo groups was shown to be significantly increasedone hour after injection of LPS, and more signifi-cantly with the time prolonged. But there was no sig-nificant difference in OD values of CD<sub>14</sub> between thetwo groups. The contents of intrahepatic proinflam-matory mediators TNF-α, IL-6, ALT and TBILwere significantly increased after injection of LPS.Correlation analysis revealed that the changes ofTNF-α, IL-6, ALT, and TBIL were negatively cor-related with the expression of SR, and positively withthe expression of CD<sub>14</sub>.Conclusion: The up-regnlation of CD<sub>14</sub> expressionand down-regulation of SR expression on Kupffercells might be one of the important mechanisms forthe conversion of Kupffer cells from immune defen-sive to inflammatory response cells in acute hepaticinjury.展开更多
AIM: To study the protective effect of eukaryotic expression plasmid encoding augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) on acute hepatic injury and hepatic failure in rats. METHODS: The PCR-amplified ALR gene was recombin...AIM: To study the protective effect of eukaryotic expression plasmid encoding augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) on acute hepatic injury and hepatic failure in rats. METHODS: The PCR-amplified ALR gene was recombined with pcDNA3 plasmid, and used to treat rats with acute hepatic injury. The rats with acute hepatic injury induced by intraperitoneal injection of 2 mL/kg 50% carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) were randomly divided into saline control group and recombinant pcDNA3-ALR plasmid treatment groups. Recombinant pcDNA3-ALR plasmid DNA (50 or 200 μg/kg) was injected into the rats with acute hepatic injury intravenously, intraperitoneally, or intravenously and intraperitoneally in combination 4 h after CCl4 administration, respectively. The recombinant plasmid was injected once per 12 h into all treatment groups four times, and the rats were decapitated 12 h after the last injection. Hepatic histopathological alterations were observed after HE staining, the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in liver tissue was detected by immunohistochemical staining, and the level of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was determined by biochemical method. The recombinant plasmid DNA (200 μg/kg) and saline were intraperitoneally injected into the rats with acute hepatic failure induced by intraperitoneal injection of 4 mL/kg 50% CCl4 after 4 h of CCl4 administration, respectively. Rats living over 96 h were considered as survivals.RESULTS: The sequence of ALR cDNA of recombinant pcDNA3-ALR plasmid was accordant with the reported sequence of rat ALR cDNA. After the rats with acute hepatic injury were treated with recombinant pcDNA3-ALR plasmid, the degree of liver histopathological injury markedly decreased. The pathologic liver tissues, in which hepatic degeneration and necrosis of a small amount of hepatocytes and a large amount of infiltrating inflammatory cells were observed, and they became basically normal in the most effective group after four times of injection of recombinant pcDNA3-ALR plasmid. The indexes of PCNA significantly increased in the recombinant pcDNA3-ALR plasmid treatment groups compared to model group. The level of serum AST and ALT remarkably reduced in recombinant pcDNA3-ALR plasmid treatment groups compared to model group. The results showed that the effect of 200 μg/kg recombinant pcDNA3-ALR plasmid in the rats with acute liver injury was stronger than that of 50μg/kg pcDNA3-ALR DNA.The effect of intravenous injection of recombinant pcDNA3ALR plasmid was better. After the rats with acute hepatic failure were treated with recombinant pcDNA3-ALR plasmid,the survival rate (40%) significantly increased in treatment groups compared to control group (15%, P＜0.01).CONCLUSION: The ALR gene may play an important role in relieving acute hepatic injury and hepatic failure by promoting hepatic cell proliferation and reducing level ofAST and ALT in CCl4-intoxicated rats.展开更多
AIM: To evaluate protective effects of Chunggan extract(CGX), a traditional herbal formula, under 4 wk of alcohol consumption-induced liver injury. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley Rats were orally administered 30% ethano...AIM: To evaluate protective effects of Chunggan extract(CGX), a traditional herbal formula, under 4 wk of alcohol consumption-induced liver injury. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley Rats were orally administered 30% ethanol daily for 4 wk with or without CGX. The pharmaceutical properties were assessed through liver enzymes, histopathology, fibrogenic cytokines, and alcohol metabolism in hepatic tissues as well as by in vitro experiment using HSC-T6 cells. RESULTS: Four weeks of alcohol consumption notably increased liver enzymes and malondialdehyde levels in serum and hepatic tissue. CGX not only prevented the collagen deposition determined by histopathology and hydroxyproline content, but also normalized transforming growth factor-beta, platelet-derived growth factorbeta and connective tissue growth factor at the gene expression and protein levels in liver tissue. Moreover, CGX treatment also significantly normalized the abnormal changes in gene expression profiles of extracellular matrix proteins, matrix metalloproteinase and their inhibitors, alcohol metabolism, and inflammatory reactions. In the acetaldehyde-stimulated HSC-T6 cells, CGX considerably inhibited collagen production and normalized fibrogenic cytokines in both gene expression and protein levels. CONCLUSION: The present study evidenced that CGX has hepatoprotective properties via modulation of fibrogenic cytokines and alcohol metabolism in alcoholic liver injury.展开更多
Hepatic injury can be induced by the administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) via the production of free radicals. The present work was initiated to investigate the kidney response to hepatic injury induced by CC...Hepatic injury can be induced by the administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) via the production of free radicals. The present work was initiated to investigate the kidney response to hepatic injury induced by CCl4 and its treatment by L-arginine. Female Swiss albino mice were supplied with L-arginine for 6 days (orally, 200 mg/kg body weight) prior or post to hepatic injury induction through i.p. injection with a single dose of CCl4 (20 mg/kg body weight) for 24 h. After hepatic injury induction, renal MDA content was significantly elevated while renal GSH level and the activities of antioxidant enzymes (GR, GPx, GST, catalase, and SOD) were significantly decreased. These results suggest that CCl4 not only induces hepatic injury but also induces kidney dysfunction side by side. Following the treatment with L-arginine, all levels were almost back to normal. Therefore, Larginine administration is found to be an effective protector of both liver and kidney against CCl4-intoxication.展开更多
AIM:To observe the hepatic injury induced by carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum(CDP) in rabbits,compare the eects olow-and high-pressure pneumoperitoneum,and to determine the degree o hepatic injury induced by these two ...AIM:To observe the hepatic injury induced by carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum(CDP) in rabbits,compare the eects olow-and high-pressure pneumoperitoneum,and to determine the degree o hepatic injury induced by these two clinically relevant CDP pressures.METHODS:Thirty healthy male New Zealand rabbits weighing 3.0 to 3.5 kg were randomly divided into three groups(n = 10 for each group) and subjected to the ollowing to CDP pressures:no gas control,10 mmHg,or 15 mmHg.Histological changes in liver tissues were observed with hematoxylin and eosin staining and transmission electron microscopy.Liver unction was evaluated using an automatic biochemical analyzer.Adenine nucleotide translocator(ANT) activity in liver tissue was detected with the atractyloside-inhibitor stop technique.Bax and Bcl-2 expression levels were detected bywestern blotting.RESULTS:Liver Functions in the 10 mmHg and 15 mmHg experimental groups were significantly disturbed compared with the control group.After CDP,the levels or alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase were 77.3 ± 14.5 IU/L and 60.1 ± 11.4 IU/L,respectively,in the 10 mmHg experimental group and 165.1 ± 19.4 IU/L and 103.8 ± 12.3 IU/L,respectively,in the 15 mmHg experimental group,which were all higher than those of the control group(p < 0.05).There was no difference in pre-albumin concentration between the 10 mmHg experimental group and the control group,but the prealbumin level of the 15 mmHg experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group(p < 0.05).No significant differences were observed in the levels of total bilirubin or albumin among the three groups.After 30 and 60 min of CDP,pH was reduced(p < 0.05) and fa CO2 was elevated(p < 0.05) in the 10 mmHg group compared with controls,and these changes were more pronounced in the 15 mmHg group.Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed no significant change in liver morphology,except for mild hyperemia in the two experimental groups.Transmission electron microscopy showed mild mitochondrial swelling in hepatocytes of the 10 mmHg group,and this was more pronounced in the 15 mmHg group.No significant difference in ANT levels was found between the control and 10 mmHg groups.However,ANT concentration was significantly lower in the 15 mmHg group compared with the control group.The expression of hepatic Bax was significantly increased in the two experimental groups compared with the controls,but there were no differences in Bcl-2 levels among the three groups.Twelve hours after CDP induction,the expression of hepatic Bax was more significant in the 15 mmHg group than in the 10 mmHg group.CONCLUSION:A CDP pressure of 15 mmHg caused more substantial hepatic injury,such as increased levels of acidosis,mitochondrial damage,and apoptosis;therefore,10 mmHg CDP is preferable for laparoscopic operations.展开更多
AIM:To observe the hepatic injury induced by carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum in rats and to explore its potential mechanism. METHODS:Thirty healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into control group(n=10),0 h exper...AIM:To observe the hepatic injury induced by carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum in rats and to explore its potential mechanism. METHODS:Thirty healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into control group(n=10),0 h experimental group(n=10)and 1 h experimental group(n=10)after sham operation with carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum.Histological changes in liver tissue were observed with hematoxylineosin staining.Liver function was assayed with an automatic biochemical analyzer.Concentration of malonyldialdehyde(MDA)and activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD)were assayed by colorimetry.Activity of adenine nucleotide translocator in liver tissue was detected with the atractyloside-inhibitor stop technique.Expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) mRNA in liver tissue was detected with in situ hybridization. RESULTS:Carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum for 60 min could induce liver injury in rats.Alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were 95.7±7.8 U/L and 86.8±6.9 U/L in 0 h experimental group,and 101.4±9.3 U/L and 106.6±8.7 U/L in 1 h experimental group.However,no significant difference was found in total billirubin,albumin,and pre-albumin in the three groups.In 0 h experimental group,the concentration of MDA was 9.83±2.53 μmol/g in liver homogenate and 7.64±2.19μmol/g in serum respectively,the activity of SOD was 67.58±9.75 nu/mg in liver and 64.47±10.23 nu/mg in serum respectively.In 1 h experimental group,the concentration of MDA was 16.57±3.45 μmol/g in liver tissue and 12.49±4.21μmol/g in serum respectively,the activity of SOD was 54.29± 7.96 nu/mg in liver tissue and 56.31±9.85 nu/mg in serum,respectively.The activity of ANT in liver tissue was 9.52±1.56 in control group,6.37±1.33 in 0 h experimental group and 7.28±1.45(10 -9 mol/min per gram protein)in 1 h experimental group,respectively. The expression of HIF-1 mRNA in liver tissue was not detected in control group,and its optical density difference value was 6.14±1.03 in 0 h experimental group and 9.51±1.74 in 1 h experimental group, respectively. CONCLUSION:Carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum during the sham operation can induce hepatic injury in rats.The probable mechanisms of liver injury include anoxia,ischemia reperfusion and oxidative stress.Liver injury should be avoided during clinical laparoscopic operation with carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum.展开更多
AIM: To investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of Baicalin and Octreotide on hepatic injury in rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). METHODS: The SAP rat models were prepared and randomly assigned to t...AIM: To investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of Baicalin and Octreotide on hepatic injury in rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). METHODS: The SAP rat models were prepared and randomly assigned to the model control group, Baicalin treated group, and Octreotide treated group while other healthy rats were assigned to the sham-operated group. Rat mortality, levels of ALT, AST, liver and pancreas pathological changes in all groups were observed at 3, 6 and 12 h after operation. Tissue microarray (TMA) sections of hepatic tissue were prepared to observe expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2 protein and Caspase-3, and changes of apoptotic indexes.RESULTS: Rat survival at 12 h, expression levels of Bax, Caspase-3 protein and apoptotic indexes of liver were all significantly higher in treated groups than in model control group. While the liver and pancreas pathological scores, contents of ALT, AST, and expression levels of Bcl-2 protein were all lower in treated groups than in the model control group. CONCLUSION: Both Baicalin and Octreotide can protect rats with SAP by decreasing the contents of ALT, AST and expression levels of Bcl-2 protein, and improving the expression levels of Bax protein, Caspase-3 protein, and inducing apoptosis.展开更多
Study on the action mechanism of inflammatory mediators generated by the severe acute pancreatitis(SAP) in mul-tiple organ injury is a hotspot in the surgical field.In clinical practice,the main complicated organ dysf...Study on the action mechanism of inflammatory mediators generated by the severe acute pancreatitis(SAP) in mul-tiple organ injury is a hotspot in the surgical field.In clinical practice,the main complicated organ dysfunctions are shock,res-piratory failure,renal failure,encephalopathy,with the rate of hepatic diseases being closely next to them.The hepatic injury caused by SAP cannot only aggravate the state of pancreatitis,but also develop into hepatic failure and cause patient death.Its complicated pathogenic mechanism is an obstacle in clinical treatment.Among many pathogenic factors,the changes of vasoac-tive substances,participation of inflammatory mediators as well as OFR(oxygen free radical),endotoxin,etc.may play important roles in its progression.展开更多
AIM:To investigate apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values as an indication of reconditioning of acute hepatic injury (AHI) after allogeneic mononuclear bone marrow cell (MBMC) transplantation.METHODS:Three groups...AIM:To investigate apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values as an indication of reconditioning of acute hepatic injury (AHI) after allogeneic mononuclear bone marrow cell (MBMC) transplantation.METHODS:Three groups were used in our study:a cell transplantation group (n=21),transplantation control group (n=21) and normal control group (n=10).AHI model rabbits in the cell transplantation group were injected with 5 mL of MBMC suspension at multiple sites in the liver and the transplantation controls were injected with 5 mL D-Hanks solution.At the end of the 1st,2nd and 4th wk,7 rabbits were randomly selected from the cell transplantation group and transplantation control group for magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging (MR-DWI) and measurement of the mean ADC values of injured livers.After MR-DWI examination,the rabbits were sacrificed and the livers subjected to pathological examination.Ten healthy rabbits from the normal control group were used for MRDWI examination and measurement of the mean ADC value of normal liver.RESULTS:At all time points,the liver pathological scores from the cell transplantation group were significantly lower than those in the transplantation control group (27.14±1.46 vs 69.29±6.16,22.29±2.29 vs 57.00±1.53,19.00±2.31vs 51.86±6.04,P=0.000).The mean ADC values of the cell transplantation group were significantly higher than the transplantation control group ((1.07±0.07)×10-3 mm2/svs (0.69±0.05)×10-3 mm2/s,(1.41±0.04)×10-3 mm2/s vs (0.84±0.06)×10-3 mm2/s,(1.68±0.04)×10-3 mm2/svs (0.86±0.04)×10-3 mm2/s,P=0.000).The pathological scores of the cell transplantation group and transplantation control group gradually decreased.However,their mean ADC values gradually increased to near that of the normal control.At the end of the 1st wk,the mean ADC values of the cell transplantation group and transplantation control group were significantly lower than those of the normal control group [(1.07±0.07)×10-3 mm2/s vs (1.76±0.03)×10-3 mm2/s,(0.69±0.05)×10-3 mm2/s vs (1.76±0.03)×10-3 mm2/s,P=0.000].At any 2 time points,the pathological scores and the mean ADC values of the cell transplantation group were significantly different (P=0.000).At the end of the 1st wk,the pathological scores and the mean ADC values of the transplantation control group were significantly different from those at the end of the 2nd and 4th wk (P=0.000).However,there was no significant difference between the 2nd and 4th wk (P=0.073 and 0.473,respectively).The coefficient of correlation between the pathological score and the mean ADC value in the cell transplantation group was-0.883 (P=0.000) and-0.762 (P=0.000) in the transplantation control group.CONCLUSION:Tracking the longitudinally dynamic change in the mean ADC value of the AHI liver may reflect hepatic injury reconditioning after allogeneic MBMC transplantation.展开更多
文摘The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)represents a global health and economic challenge.Hepatic injuries have been approved to be associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus(SARS-CoV-2)infection.The viral tropism pattern of SARS-CoV-2 can induce hepatic injuries either by itself or by worsening the conditions of patients with hepatic diseases.Besides,other factors have been reported to play a crucial role in the pathological forms of hepatic injuries induced by SARS-CoV-2,including cytokine storm,hypoxia,endothelial cells,and even some treatments for COVID-19.On the other hand,several groups of people could be at risk of hepatic COVID-19 complications,such as pregnant women and neonates.The present review outlines and discusses the interplay between SARS-CoV-2 infection and hepatic injury,hepatic illness comorbidity,and risk factors.Besides,it is focused on the vaccination process and the role of developed vac-cines in preventing hepatic injuries due to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
基金The Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province for Distinguished Young Scholar,No.2022B1515020024National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.82070574The Natural Science Foundation Team Project of Guangdong Province,No.2018B030312009.
文摘BACKGROUND The clinical and histological features of chronic hepatitis B(CHB)patients who fall into the"grey zone(GZ)"and do not fit into conventional natural phases are unclear.AIM To explore the impact of varying the threshold of alanine aminotransferase(ALT)levels in identifying significant liver injury among GZ patients.METHODS This retrospective analysis involved a cohort of 1617 adult patients diagnosed with CHB who underwent liver biopsy.The clinical phases of CHB patients were determined based on the European Association for the Study of the Liver 2017 Clinical Practice Guidelines.GZ CHB patients were classified into four groups:GZ-A(HBeAg positive,normal ALT levels,and HBV DNA≤10^(7) IU/mL),GZ-B(HBeAg positive,elevated ALT levels,and HBV DNA<10^(4) or>10^(7) IU/mL),GZC(HBeAg negative,normal ALT levels,and HBV DNA≥2000 IU/mL),and GZ-D(HBeAg negative,elevated ALT levels,and HBV DNA≤2000 IU/mL).Significant hepatic injury(SHI)was defined as the presence of notable liver inflammation(≥G2)and/or significant fibrosis(≥S2).RESULTS The results showed that 50.22%of patients were classified as GZ,and 63.7%of GZ patients developed SHI.The study also found that lowering the ALT treatment thresholds to the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases 2018 treatment criteria(35 U/L for men and 25 U/L for women)can more accurately identify patients with significant liver damage in the GZ phases.In total,the proportion of patients with ALT≤40 U/L who required antiviral therapy was 64.86%[(221+294)/794].When we lowered the ALT treatment threshold to the new criteria(30 U/L for men and 19 U/L for women),the same outcome was revealed,and the proportion of patients with ALT≤40 U/L who required antiviral therapy was 75.44%[(401+198)/794].Additionally,the proportion of SHI was 49.1%in patients under 30 years old and increased to 55.3%in patients over 30 years old(P=0.136).CONCLUSION These findings suggest the importance of redefining the natural phases of CHB and using new ALT treatment thresholds for better diagnosis and management of CHB patients in the GZ phases.
基金supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Grant No. 20-04-00526А)
文摘Liver diseases with the central pathogenetic mechanism of oxidative stress are one of the main causes of mortality worldwide.Therefore,dihydroquinoline derivatives,which are precursors of hepatoprotectors and have antioxidant activity,are of interest.We have previously found that some compounds in this class have the ability to normalize redox homeostasis under experimental conditions.Here,we initially analyzed the hepatoprotective potential of the dihydroquinoline derivative 1-benzoyl-6-hydroxy-2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline(BHDQ)for carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)-induced liver injury in rats.Results suggested that BHDQ normalized the alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in serum.We also observed an improvement in liver tissue morphology related to BHDQ.Animals with CCl4-induced liver injuries treated with BHDQ had less oxidative stress compared to animals with CCl4-induced liver injury.BHDQ promoted activation changes in superoxide dismutase,catalase,glutathione peroxidase,glutathione reductase,and glutathione transferase on control values in animals with CCl4-induced liver injury.BHDQ also activated gene transcription in Sod1 and Gpx1 via nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and forkhead box protein O1 factors.Therefore,the compound of concern has a hepatoprotective effect by inhibiting the development of necrotic processes in the liver tissue,through antioxidation.
基金supported in part by a grant from the Project of Science and Technology Research from the Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province,China (11551245)
文摘BACKGROUND:Stem cell transplantation provides a theoretical approach for liver regeneration medicine;it may promote liver regeneration and self-repair.However,the transplantation of bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cells expanded ex vivo as a therapy for liver disease has rarely been investigated.This study aimed to explore whether bone marrow stem cells expanded ex vivo home to the liver and foster hepatic recovery after CCl 4 injury.METHODS:Bone marrow cells from BALB/c mice were expanded ex vivo by multiple-passage cultivation,characterized by cytoflow immunofluorescence,and pre-labeled with PKH26 before intravenous infusion into animals treated with CCl 4.The integration of bone marrow cells into the liver was examined microscopically,and plasma hepatic enzymes were determined biochemically.RESULTS:Cultured bone marrow cells exhibited antigenic profiles comparable to those of primary medullary stem cells.Double immunofluorescence showed colocalization of these cells with proliferative activity and albumin expression in the liver of CCl 4 -treated mice.Densitometry showed increased in situ cell proliferation (50±14 vs 20±3 cells/high-power field,P<0.05) and albumin expression (149±25 vs 20±5 cells/high-power field,P<0.05) in the liver,as well as reduced serum aminotransferase levels (P<0.05) and better survival rates (P<0.05) in animals receiving cultured bone marrow cells relative to controls.CONCLUSIONS:Ex vivo-expanded bone marrow cells are capable of relocating to and proliferating in the chemically- injured liver.Transplantation of these pluripotent stem cells appears to improve serum indices of liver function and survival rate in mice after CCl4-induced hepatic damage.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81271872Health Department of Hubei Province,No.XF2012-5Jingzhou Bureau of Science and Technology
文摘AIM:To explore the effects of curcumin(CMN)on hepatic injury induced by acetaminophen(APAP)in vivo.METHODS:Male mice were randomly divided into three groups:groupⅠ(control)mice received the equivalent volumes of phosphate-buffered saline(PBS)intraperitoneally(ip);GroupⅡ[APAP+carboxymethylcellulose(CMC)]mice received 1%CMC(vehicle)2h before APAP injection;GroupⅢ(APAP+CMN)mice received curcumin(10 or 20 mg/kg,ip)2 h before before or after APAP challenge.In GroupsⅡandⅢ,APAP was dissolved in pyrogen-free PBS and injected at a single dose of 300 mg/kg.CMN was dissolved in 1%CMC.Mice were sacrificed 16 h after the APAP injection to determine alanine aminotransferase(ALT)levels in serum and malondialdehyde(MDA)accumulation,superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity and hepatocyte apoptosis in liver tissues.RESULTS:Both pre-and post-treatment with curcumin resulted in a significant decrease in serum ALT compared with APAP treatment group(10 mg/kg:801.46±661.34 U/L;20 mg/kg:99.68±86.48 U/L vs 5406.80±1785.75 U/L,P<0.001,respectively).The incidence of liver necrosis was significantly lowered in CMN treated animals.MDA contents were significantly reduced in 20 mg/kg CMN pretreatment group,but increased in APAP treated group(10.96±0.87 nmol/mg protein vs 16.03±2.58 nmol/mg protein,P<0.05).The decrease of SOD activity in APAP treatment group and the increase of SOD in 20 mg/kg CMN pretreatment group were also detected(24.54±4.95 U/mg protein vs 50.21±1.93 U/mg protein,P<0.05).Furthermore,CMN treatment efficiently protected against APAPinduced apoptosis via increasing Bcl-2/Bax ratio.CONCLUSION:CMN has significant therapeutic potential in both APAP-induced hepatotoxicity and other types of liver diseases.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.31502059Education Department of Hubei Province,No.B2016039+1 种基金Medical School of Yangtze University,No.YXYQ201406Clinical and Molecular Immunology Research Center of Yangtze University
文摘AIM To explore the protective effects and mechanisms of naringenin(NRG) on hepatic injury induced by isoniazid(INH) and rifampicin(RIF).METHODS Male mice were randomly divided into four groups and treated for 14 d as follows: normal control group was administered intragastrically with normal saline solution alone; model group was administered intragastrically with INH(100 mg/kg) and RIF(100 mg/kg); lowand high-dosage NRG pretreatment groups were administered intragastrically with different doses of NRG(50 or 100 mg/kg) 2 h before INH and RIF challenge. Mice were killed 16 h after the last dose of drug treatment to determine activity of serum transaminases. Oxidative stress was evaluated by measuring hepatic glutathione(GSH) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) and malondialdehyde(MDA) levels. Histopathological changes in hepatic tissue were observed under the optical microscope. Hepatocyte apoptosis was measured by TUNEL assay and caspase-3 activation. Expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in liver was determined by western blot.RESULTS Both low- and high-dosage NRG pretreatment obviously alleviated serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, liver index, hepatic MDA content, and increased hepatic GSH content and SOD activity compared with the INH and RIF-treated group(44.71 ± 8.15 U/L, 38.22 ± 6.64 U/L vs 58.15 ± 10.54 U/L; 98.36 ± 14.78 U/L, 92.41 ± 13.59 U/L vs 133.05 ± 19.36 U/L; 5.34% ± 0.26%, 4.93% ± 0.25% vs 5.71% ± 0.28%; 2.76 ± 0.67 nmol/mgprot, 2.64 ± 0.64 nmol/mgprot vs 4.49 ± 1.12 nmol/mgprot; 5.91 ± 1.31 mg/gprot, 6.42 ± 1.42 mg/gprot vs 3.11 ± 0.73 mg/gprot; 137.31 ± 24.62 U/mgprot, 148.83 ± 26.75 U/mgprot vs 102.34 ± 19.22 U/mgprot; all P < 0.01 or 0.05). Histopathological evaluation showed obvious necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration in liver of mice administered INH and RIF; however, mice pretreated with NRG showed minor hepatic injury. In addition, INH and RIF resulted in hepatocyte apoptosis, and NRG pretreatment dramatically suppressed INHand RIF-induced hepatocytes apoptosis. Furthermore, NRG-mediated anti-apoptotic effects seemed to be in connection with its regulation of Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression in hepatic tissue.CONCLUSION NRG might attenuate INH- and RIF-induced hepatic injury via suppression of oxidative stress and hepatocyte apoptosis.
文摘BACKGROUND: Fructose is cytoprotective during bile salt-induced apoptosis of hepatocytes by regulating protein kinase C (PKC). This study was undertaken to explore the regulating mechanism of hepatic injury in rats with obstructive jaundice, and to detect the PKC signal pathway. METHODS: Rat hepatocytes were isolated by in situ colla-genase perfusion and primary culture, and pretreated with various concentrations of PKC agonist phorbol myristate acetale (PMA) and inhibitor chelerythrine for 20 minutes. After pretreatment, 50 μmol/L glycochenodeoxycholate (GCDC) was added for additional 24 hours. Subsequently, the cells were detected by FCM and TUNEL. After adding with different concentrations of fructose and 100 μmol GCDC , the hepatocytes were evaluated by FCM and TUNEL. Experimental obstructive jaundice was induced with fructose and without fructose via double ligation of the bile duct for 3, 7, 14, and 21 days. Apoptotic status in the liver of all rats was detected with TUNEL, and PKC protein in the liver of obstructive jaundice ( OJ) with the immunohisto-chemistry method. RESULTS: PMA increased GCDC-induced apoptosis and chelerythrine decreased GCDC-induced apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. Adding with different concentration of fructose and 100 μmol GCDC, the decreased apoptotic rate was related to the concentration of fructose. The apoptotic rate of the liver was related to times of OJ. PKC and apoptosis index (AI) were the highest after a 14-day ligation of the bile duct without use of fructose. AI and PKC were decreasing from a 14-day ligation of the bile duct with fructose. CONCLUSIONS: PKC takes part in the regulation, occurrence , and progression of hepatic injury in OJ. Fructose is cytoprotective during bile salt-induced apoptosis of hepato-cytes by regulating PKC.
基金supported by grants from the National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program)(2009CB522403)the Key Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(30730085)the National Natural Science Youth Foundation of China(J20090846)
文摘BACKGROUND:Increasing evidence suggests that a close interaction of Kupffer cells with T cells plays a central role in concanavalin A-induced hepatic injury in mice,but the underlying mechanisms remain obscure.The present study aimed to determine the relative roles of Th1 and Th17 type responses in concanavalin A-induced hepatic injury in mice, and to investigate whether or not Kupffer cells contribute to hepatic injury via a Th1 or Th17 type response-dependent pathway. METHODS:Immune-mediated hepatic injury was induced in C57BL/6 mice by intravenous injection of concanavalin A. Kupffer cells were inactivated by pretreatment with gadolinium chloride 24 hours before the concanavalin A injection.The interferon-gamma(IFN-γ)and interleukin-17(IL-17)pathways were blocked by specific neutralizing antibodies.Hepatic injury was assessed using serum transferase activity and pathological analysis.Expression of inflammatory cytokines within the liver was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS:Neutralization of IFN-γsignificantly attenuated concanavalin A-induced hepatic injury.However,neutralization of IL-17 failed to suppress the injury.Inactivation of Kupffer cells by gadolinium chloride pretreatment protected against concanavalin A-induced injury and significantly reduced hepatic cytokine levels including TNF-α,IL-6 and IFN-γbut not IL-17.CONCLUSION:Our findings suggest that Kupffer cells contribute to concanavalin A-induced hepatic injury via a Th1 type response-dependent pathway and production of inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α,IL-6 and IFN-γ.
基金Supported by Doctoral Fund of the Ministry of Education,No.2013007110041Young Investigator Funding of Zhongshan Hospital,No.2014ZSQN37
文摘AIM: To test whether hepatic stellate cells(HSCs) at different activation stages play different roles in acetaminophen(APAP)-induced acute liver injury(ALI).METHODS: HSCs were isolated from mouse liver and cultured in vitro.Morphological changes of initiation HSCs [HSCs(5d)] and perpetuation HSCs [HSCs(p3)] were observed by immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy.The protective effects of HSCderived molecules, cell lysates and HSC-conditioned medium(HSC-CM) were tested in vivo by survival and histopathological analyses.Liver injury was determined by measuring aminotransferase levels in the serum and by histologic examination of tissue sections under a light microscope.Additionally, to determine the molecular mediators of the observed protective effects of initiation HSCs, we examined HSC-CM using a highdensity protein array.RESULTS: HSCs(5d) and HSCs(p3) had different morphological and phenotypic traits.HSCs(5d) presented a star-shaped appearance with expressing α-SMA at non-uniform levels between cells.However, HSCs(p3) evolved into myofibroblast-like cells without lipid droplets and expressed a uniform and higher level of α-SMA.HSC-CM(5d), but not HSC-CM(p3), provided a significant survival benefit and showed a dramatic reduction of hepatocellular necrosis and panlobular leukocyte infiltrates in mice exposed to APAP.However, this protective effect was abrogated at higher cell masses, indicating a therapeutic window of effectiveness.Furthermore, the protein array screenrevealed that HSC-CM(5d) was composed of many chemokines and growth factors that correlated with inflammatory inhibition and therapeutic activity.When compared with HSC-CM(p3), higher levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, macrophage inflammatory protein-1γ, hepatocyte growth factor, interleukin-10, and matrix metalloproteinase-2, but lower levels of stem cell factor and Fas-Ligand were observed in HSCCM(5d).CONCLUSION: These data indicated that initiation HSCs and perpetuation HSCs were different in morphology and protein expression, and provided the first experimental evidence of the potential medical value of initiation HSC-derived molecules in the treatment of ALI.
基金financially supported by UGC Major Research Project [(F42-520/2013(SR)]
文摘To evaluate hepatic injury induced by antituberculosis drugs(ATDs) when administered orally for 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks and the therapeutic potential of propolis(bee hive product) against ATDs induced hepatic injury. Methods: The ATDs were administered for 8 weeks as well as propolis extract at three different doses(100, 200, 400 mg/kg) conjointly for 8 weeks in rats. Silymarin(50 mg/kg) was given as positive control. Animals were euthanized after 8 weeks; blood and liver samples were collected to perform various biochemicals, serological and histopathological and ultramorphological studies. Results: Significant increase(P < 0.05) in aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, triglyceride and cholesterol along with reduction in glucose and albumin level were noted after ATDs induced hepatic injury. Significant increase(P < 0.05) in lipid peroxidation, triglyceride, cholesterol and CYP2E1 activity; decline in reduced glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, glucose-6-phosphatase dehydrogenase activity were observed after ATDs intoxication. Due to presence of a wide range of flavonoids and polyphenols in propolis extract, its administration reduced hepatic injury and maintained biochemical indices towards control. Histopathological and electron microscopic observations indicated hepatoprotective potential of propolis at cellular level whereas, TNF-α, IL-6 and IGF-1 confirmed therapeutic potential of propolis at molecular level. Conclusions: It can be concluded that propolis possess hepatoprotective potential against ATDs induced hepatic injury that may prove itself as a clinically useful natural product in management of drug induced liver injury.
基金This work is supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 39770313).
文摘Objective: To investigate the changes of scavenger re-ceptor （SR） and CD<sub>14</sub> in Kupffer cells in endotox-emia in order to uncover the mechanism of the liverto turn a defense organ into effector one in sepsis.Methods: Mouse models of endotoxemia of differentseverity were reproduced by injection of different do-ses of lipopolysaccharide （LPS） via the tail vein.The expression of SR and CD<sub>14</sub> in the liver was as-sayed by immunohistochemistry and was subsequent-ly analyzed with an image analysis system. The levelsof TNF-α and IL-6 in liver tissue were determinedwith ELISA.Results: The expression of SR in the liver in the high-dose group was markedly decreased one hour afterinjection of LPS, and also in the low-dose group at 3hours. The expression of SR in the liver in the twogroups was shown to be progressively decreased withthe time prolonged. There was significant differencein average optical density （OD） values of SR be-tween the two groups. The expression of CD<sub>14</sub> in thetwo groups was shown to be significantly increasedone hour after injection of LPS, and more signifi-cantly with the time prolonged. But there was no sig-nificant difference in OD values of CD<sub>14</sub> between thetwo groups. The contents of intrahepatic proinflam-matory mediators TNF-α, IL-6, ALT and TBILwere significantly increased after injection of LPS.Correlation analysis revealed that the changes ofTNF-α, IL-6, ALT, and TBIL were negatively cor-related with the expression of SR, and positively withthe expression of CD<sub>14</sub>.Conclusion: The up-regnlation of CD<sub>14</sub> expressionand down-regulation of SR expression on Kupffercells might be one of the important mechanisms forthe conversion of Kupffer cells from immune defen-sive to inflammatory response cells in acute hepaticinjury.
基金Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province, No. 302489
文摘AIM: To study the protective effect of eukaryotic expression plasmid encoding augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) on acute hepatic injury and hepatic failure in rats. METHODS: The PCR-amplified ALR gene was recombined with pcDNA3 plasmid, and used to treat rats with acute hepatic injury. The rats with acute hepatic injury induced by intraperitoneal injection of 2 mL/kg 50% carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) were randomly divided into saline control group and recombinant pcDNA3-ALR plasmid treatment groups. Recombinant pcDNA3-ALR plasmid DNA (50 or 200 μg/kg) was injected into the rats with acute hepatic injury intravenously, intraperitoneally, or intravenously and intraperitoneally in combination 4 h after CCl4 administration, respectively. The recombinant plasmid was injected once per 12 h into all treatment groups four times, and the rats were decapitated 12 h after the last injection. Hepatic histopathological alterations were observed after HE staining, the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in liver tissue was detected by immunohistochemical staining, and the level of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was determined by biochemical method. The recombinant plasmid DNA (200 μg/kg) and saline were intraperitoneally injected into the rats with acute hepatic failure induced by intraperitoneal injection of 4 mL/kg 50% CCl4 after 4 h of CCl4 administration, respectively. Rats living over 96 h were considered as survivals.RESULTS: The sequence of ALR cDNA of recombinant pcDNA3-ALR plasmid was accordant with the reported sequence of rat ALR cDNA. After the rats with acute hepatic injury were treated with recombinant pcDNA3-ALR plasmid, the degree of liver histopathological injury markedly decreased. The pathologic liver tissues, in which hepatic degeneration and necrosis of a small amount of hepatocytes and a large amount of infiltrating inflammatory cells were observed, and they became basically normal in the most effective group after four times of injection of recombinant pcDNA3-ALR plasmid. The indexes of PCNA significantly increased in the recombinant pcDNA3-ALR plasmid treatment groups compared to model group. The level of serum AST and ALT remarkably reduced in recombinant pcDNA3-ALR plasmid treatment groups compared to model group. The results showed that the effect of 200 μg/kg recombinant pcDNA3-ALR plasmid in the rats with acute liver injury was stronger than that of 50μg/kg pcDNA3-ALR DNA.The effect of intravenous injection of recombinant pcDNA3ALR plasmid was better. After the rats with acute hepatic failure were treated with recombinant pcDNA3-ALR plasmid,the survival rate (40%) significantly increased in treatment groups compared to control group (15%, P＜0.01).CONCLUSION: The ALR gene may play an important role in relieving acute hepatic injury and hepatic failure by promoting hepatic cell proliferation and reducing level ofAST and ALT in CCl4-intoxicated rats.
基金Supported by Oriental Medicine Research and Develop-ment Project,Ministry of Health and Welfare,South Korea No.HI12C-1920-01001
文摘AIM: To evaluate protective effects of Chunggan extract(CGX), a traditional herbal formula, under 4 wk of alcohol consumption-induced liver injury. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley Rats were orally administered 30% ethanol daily for 4 wk with or without CGX. The pharmaceutical properties were assessed through liver enzymes, histopathology, fibrogenic cytokines, and alcohol metabolism in hepatic tissues as well as by in vitro experiment using HSC-T6 cells. RESULTS: Four weeks of alcohol consumption notably increased liver enzymes and malondialdehyde levels in serum and hepatic tissue. CGX not only prevented the collagen deposition determined by histopathology and hydroxyproline content, but also normalized transforming growth factor-beta, platelet-derived growth factorbeta and connective tissue growth factor at the gene expression and protein levels in liver tissue. Moreover, CGX treatment also significantly normalized the abnormal changes in gene expression profiles of extracellular matrix proteins, matrix metalloproteinase and their inhibitors, alcohol metabolism, and inflammatory reactions. In the acetaldehyde-stimulated HSC-T6 cells, CGX considerably inhibited collagen production and normalized fibrogenic cytokines in both gene expression and protein levels. CONCLUSION: The present study evidenced that CGX has hepatoprotective properties via modulation of fibrogenic cytokines and alcohol metabolism in alcoholic liver injury.
文摘Hepatic injury can be induced by the administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) via the production of free radicals. The present work was initiated to investigate the kidney response to hepatic injury induced by CCl4 and its treatment by L-arginine. Female Swiss albino mice were supplied with L-arginine for 6 days (orally, 200 mg/kg body weight) prior or post to hepatic injury induction through i.p. injection with a single dose of CCl4 (20 mg/kg body weight) for 24 h. After hepatic injury induction, renal MDA content was significantly elevated while renal GSH level and the activities of antioxidant enzymes (GR, GPx, GST, catalase, and SOD) were significantly decreased. These results suggest that CCl4 not only induces hepatic injury but also induces kidney dysfunction side by side. Following the treatment with L-arginine, all levels were almost back to normal. Therefore, Larginine administration is found to be an effective protector of both liver and kidney against CCl4-intoxication.
基金Supported by The Eleventh-five Medical Science Fund of Chengdu Military Command Area,No. MB07011China Post doctoral Science Foundation,No. 20100471764
文摘AIM:To observe the hepatic injury induced by carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum(CDP) in rabbits,compare the eects olow-and high-pressure pneumoperitoneum,and to determine the degree o hepatic injury induced by these two clinically relevant CDP pressures.METHODS:Thirty healthy male New Zealand rabbits weighing 3.0 to 3.5 kg were randomly divided into three groups(n = 10 for each group) and subjected to the ollowing to CDP pressures:no gas control,10 mmHg,or 15 mmHg.Histological changes in liver tissues were observed with hematoxylin and eosin staining and transmission electron microscopy.Liver unction was evaluated using an automatic biochemical analyzer.Adenine nucleotide translocator(ANT) activity in liver tissue was detected with the atractyloside-inhibitor stop technique.Bax and Bcl-2 expression levels were detected bywestern blotting.RESULTS:Liver Functions in the 10 mmHg and 15 mmHg experimental groups were significantly disturbed compared with the control group.After CDP,the levels or alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase were 77.3 ± 14.5 IU/L and 60.1 ± 11.4 IU/L,respectively,in the 10 mmHg experimental group and 165.1 ± 19.4 IU/L and 103.8 ± 12.3 IU/L,respectively,in the 15 mmHg experimental group,which were all higher than those of the control group(p < 0.05).There was no difference in pre-albumin concentration between the 10 mmHg experimental group and the control group,but the prealbumin level of the 15 mmHg experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group(p < 0.05).No significant differences were observed in the levels of total bilirubin or albumin among the three groups.After 30 and 60 min of CDP,pH was reduced(p < 0.05) and fa CO2 was elevated(p < 0.05) in the 10 mmHg group compared with controls,and these changes were more pronounced in the 15 mmHg group.Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed no significant change in liver morphology,except for mild hyperemia in the two experimental groups.Transmission electron microscopy showed mild mitochondrial swelling in hepatocytes of the 10 mmHg group,and this was more pronounced in the 15 mmHg group.No significant difference in ANT levels was found between the control and 10 mmHg groups.However,ANT concentration was significantly lower in the 15 mmHg group compared with the control group.The expression of hepatic Bax was significantly increased in the two experimental groups compared with the controls,but there were no differences in Bcl-2 levels among the three groups.Twelve hours after CDP induction,the expression of hepatic Bax was more significant in the 15 mmHg group than in the 10 mmHg group.CONCLUSION:A CDP pressure of 15 mmHg caused more substantial hepatic injury,such as increased levels of acidosis,mitochondrial damage,and apoptosis;therefore,10 mmHg CDP is preferable for laparoscopic operations.
基金Supported by The Eleventh-five Medical Science Fund of Chengdu Military Command Area,NoMB07011
文摘AIM:To observe the hepatic injury induced by carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum in rats and to explore its potential mechanism. METHODS:Thirty healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into control group(n=10),0 h experimental group(n=10)and 1 h experimental group(n=10)after sham operation with carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum.Histological changes in liver tissue were observed with hematoxylineosin staining.Liver function was assayed with an automatic biochemical analyzer.Concentration of malonyldialdehyde(MDA)and activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD)were assayed by colorimetry.Activity of adenine nucleotide translocator in liver tissue was detected with the atractyloside-inhibitor stop technique.Expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) mRNA in liver tissue was detected with in situ hybridization. RESULTS:Carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum for 60 min could induce liver injury in rats.Alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were 95.7±7.8 U/L and 86.8±6.9 U/L in 0 h experimental group,and 101.4±9.3 U/L and 106.6±8.7 U/L in 1 h experimental group.However,no significant difference was found in total billirubin,albumin,and pre-albumin in the three groups.In 0 h experimental group,the concentration of MDA was 9.83±2.53 μmol/g in liver homogenate and 7.64±2.19μmol/g in serum respectively,the activity of SOD was 67.58±9.75 nu/mg in liver and 64.47±10.23 nu/mg in serum respectively.In 1 h experimental group,the concentration of MDA was 16.57±3.45 μmol/g in liver tissue and 12.49±4.21μmol/g in serum respectively,the activity of SOD was 54.29± 7.96 nu/mg in liver tissue and 56.31±9.85 nu/mg in serum,respectively.The activity of ANT in liver tissue was 9.52±1.56 in control group,6.37±1.33 in 0 h experimental group and 7.28±1.45(10 -9 mol/min per gram protein)in 1 h experimental group,respectively. The expression of HIF-1 mRNA in liver tissue was not detected in control group,and its optical density difference value was 6.14±1.03 in 0 h experimental group and 9.51±1.74 in 1 h experimental group, respectively. CONCLUSION:Carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum during the sham operation can induce hepatic injury in rats.The probable mechanisms of liver injury include anoxia,ischemia reperfusion and oxidative stress.Liver injury should be avoided during clinical laparoscopic operation with carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum.
基金Supported by Technological Foundation Project of Traditional Chinese Medicine Science of Zhejiang province, No. 2003C130 and No. 2004C142Foundation Project For Medical Science and Technology of Zhejiang province, No. 2003B134+3 种基金Grave Foundation Project for Technological and Development of Hangzhou, No. 2003123B19Intensive Foundation Project for Technology of Hangzhou, No. 2004Z006Foundation Project for Medical Science and Technology of Hangzhou, No. 2003A004Foundation Project for Technology of Hangzhou, No. 2005224
文摘AIM: To investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of Baicalin and Octreotide on hepatic injury in rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). METHODS: The SAP rat models were prepared and randomly assigned to the model control group, Baicalin treated group, and Octreotide treated group while other healthy rats were assigned to the sham-operated group. Rat mortality, levels of ALT, AST, liver and pancreas pathological changes in all groups were observed at 3, 6 and 12 h after operation. Tissue microarray (TMA) sections of hepatic tissue were prepared to observe expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2 protein and Caspase-3, and changes of apoptotic indexes.RESULTS: Rat survival at 12 h, expression levels of Bax, Caspase-3 protein and apoptotic indexes of liver were all significantly higher in treated groups than in model control group. While the liver and pancreas pathological scores, contents of ALT, AST, and expression levels of Bcl-2 protein were all lower in treated groups than in the model control group. CONCLUSION: Both Baicalin and Octreotide can protect rats with SAP by decreasing the contents of ALT, AST and expression levels of Bcl-2 protein, and improving the expression levels of Bax protein, Caspase-3 protein, and inducing apoptosis.
基金Project supported by the Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Zhejiang Province (Nos. 2003C130 and 2004C142)the Medical Science and Technology of Health Department of Zhejiang Province (No. 2003B134)the Technology and Development of Technological Bureau of Hangzhou (No. 2003123B19), China
文摘Study on the action mechanism of inflammatory mediators generated by the severe acute pancreatitis(SAP) in mul-tiple organ injury is a hotspot in the surgical field.In clinical practice,the main complicated organ dysfunctions are shock,res-piratory failure,renal failure,encephalopathy,with the rate of hepatic diseases being closely next to them.The hepatic injury caused by SAP cannot only aggravate the state of pancreatitis,but also develop into hepatic failure and cause patient death.Its complicated pathogenic mechanism is an obstacle in clinical treatment.Among many pathogenic factors,the changes of vasoac-tive substances,participation of inflammatory mediators as well as OFR(oxygen free radical),endotoxin,etc.may play important roles in its progression.
基金Supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China,No. 30070235,No. 30470508 and No. 30870695The Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province,No. 06JJ2008,07JJ6040
文摘AIM:To investigate apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values as an indication of reconditioning of acute hepatic injury (AHI) after allogeneic mononuclear bone marrow cell (MBMC) transplantation.METHODS:Three groups were used in our study:a cell transplantation group (n=21),transplantation control group (n=21) and normal control group (n=10).AHI model rabbits in the cell transplantation group were injected with 5 mL of MBMC suspension at multiple sites in the liver and the transplantation controls were injected with 5 mL D-Hanks solution.At the end of the 1st,2nd and 4th wk,7 rabbits were randomly selected from the cell transplantation group and transplantation control group for magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging (MR-DWI) and measurement of the mean ADC values of injured livers.After MR-DWI examination,the rabbits were sacrificed and the livers subjected to pathological examination.Ten healthy rabbits from the normal control group were used for MRDWI examination and measurement of the mean ADC value of normal liver.RESULTS:At all time points,the liver pathological scores from the cell transplantation group were significantly lower than those in the transplantation control group (27.14±1.46 vs 69.29±6.16,22.29±2.29 vs 57.00±1.53,19.00±2.31vs 51.86±6.04,P=0.000).The mean ADC values of the cell transplantation group were significantly higher than the transplantation control group ((1.07±0.07)×10-3 mm2/svs (0.69±0.05)×10-3 mm2/s,(1.41±0.04)×10-3 mm2/s vs (0.84±0.06)×10-3 mm2/s,(1.68±0.04)×10-3 mm2/svs (0.86±0.04)×10-3 mm2/s,P=0.000).The pathological scores of the cell transplantation group and transplantation control group gradually decreased.However,their mean ADC values gradually increased to near that of the normal control.At the end of the 1st wk,the mean ADC values of the cell transplantation group and transplantation control group were significantly lower than those of the normal control group [(1.07±0.07)×10-3 mm2/s vs (1.76±0.03)×10-3 mm2/s,(0.69±0.05)×10-3 mm2/s vs (1.76±0.03)×10-3 mm2/s,P=0.000].At any 2 time points,the pathological scores and the mean ADC values of the cell transplantation group were significantly different (P=0.000).At the end of the 1st wk,the pathological scores and the mean ADC values of the transplantation control group were significantly different from those at the end of the 2nd and 4th wk (P=0.000).However,there was no significant difference between the 2nd and 4th wk (P=0.073 and 0.473,respectively).The coefficient of correlation between the pathological score and the mean ADC value in the cell transplantation group was-0.883 (P=0.000) and-0.762 (P=0.000) in the transplantation control group.CONCLUSION:Tracking the longitudinally dynamic change in the mean ADC value of the AHI liver may reflect hepatic injury reconditioning after allogeneic MBMC transplantation.
