Objective To explore the effects of urokinase type plasminogen activator (uPA) gene-modified bone marrow-derived liver stem cells ( BDLSC) transplantation on hepatocyte regeneration in CCl4-induced liver fibrosis rats. Methods Ten male Fisher 344 rats were donor rats of BDLSC. The BDLSC of male rat was transfected with AduPA. Thirty-six female Fisher 344 rats were equally divided into normal group (injected subcutaneously with olive oil) , model group (CCl4 induced the model, injected through tail vein with 0. 9% sodium chloride), BDLSC group (CCl4 induced the model, injected through tail vein with BDLSC) and gene transfected group (CCl4 induced the model,injected through tail vein with gene transfected BDLSC). Liver function and area of collagen were observed. The expression of hepatic growth factor ( HGF) and its receptor c-met mRNA in rats' liver tissues were tested by semiquantitative RT-PCR. The expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in rats' liver tissues were determined by immunohistochemistry staining. Results The areas of collagen in normal group, model group, BDLSC group and gene transfected group was 0. 12% ± 0.03%, 14. 49%±1.40%, 8. 25%±0. 82% and 5. 12%±0. 40% accordingly, there were significant differences between groups (P<0. 05). Compared with model group and BDLSC group, the liver function of gene transfected group significantly improved, the serum levels of hyaluronic acid (HA),procollagen Ⅲ (PCⅢ) and the content of hydroxyproline in liver tissues decreased dramatically. The expression of HGF and c-met at mRNA levels were up-regulated significantly, and the expression of PCNA protein in liver tissues increased obviously. Conclusion uPA gene-modified BDLSC transplantation may induce proliferation of hepatocytes, and then improve the liver functions of fibrotic rats induced by CCl4.

Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of AngⅡ on collagen in hepatic stellate cell. Methods HSCs were isolated and cultured, 3H-pro incorporation method was used to evaluate the effects of different doses of AngⅡ on the proline syntheses. RT-PCR assay were used to assess changes in mRNA expression levels of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ procollagen. PDGFR-β mRNA and protein were determined by in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry. Results 10-8~ 10-5 mol/L AngⅡ could significantly increase the 3H-pro incorporation rate of HSC in a dose-dependent style, 10-6 mol/L AngⅡis the most effective dose. The cultured HSC showed a little expression of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ procollagen mRNAs, while 10-6 mol/L AngⅡwas able to enhance the expression for type Ⅰ and Ⅲ procollagen mRNAs significantly(P < 0.01). AngⅡalso could enhance both mRNA and protein expression of PDGFR-β on HSC(P < 0.01). Conclusion These results suggest that AngⅡ could promote HSC collagen synthesis by enhancing the expressions of PDGFR-β.

Recent studies have found that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) has great impact on the development of biliary tract diseases. Here in this review, we summarized the relationship between NAFLD and the occurrence and development, risk factors and severity of cholestasis, gallstones, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, primary biliary cirrhosis and bile microbiota, so as to further illuminate the pathogenesis of NAFLD and biliary tract diseases, obtain better diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes on NAFLD and biliary tract diseases.