1.Protective effects of agmatine on severe trauma induced acute hepatic injury
Chuan HE ; Fengyan HOU ; Ting WANG ; Xia YANG ; Xia FAN ; Huaping LIANG ; Jianping GONG
Chinese Critical Care Medicine 2016;28(4):319-323
Objective To observe the effect of agmatine (AGM) on inflammatory factor in Kupffer cells of liver,and to investigate the protective effects of AGM on severe trauma-induced liver injury in mice and its possible mechanism.Methods Forty-two adult male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into sham group,model group,and AGM treatment group,with 14 mice in each group.The mice model of trauma-hemorrhage was reproduced by hindlimbs fracture combined with 35% of orbital bleeding.The mice in the sham group were only anesthetized without other treatments.The mice in AGM treatment group were given intraperitoneal injection of 200 mg/kg AGM when limited recovery was performed,and the mice in model group were given the equal amount of normal saline.Seven mice in each group were sacrificed at 12 hours and 24 hours,respectively,after modeling,and blood samples and liver tissue were harvested,and liver Kupffer cells were isolated.Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate transaminase (AST)and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined with automatic biochemistry analyzer.Hepatic pathological changes were observed with light microscope using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining.The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-o) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in serum,hepatic homogenate and Kupffer cell supernatant were determined with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The mRNA expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 in the Kupffer cell were determined by real-time fluorescent quantitation reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).Results ① The normal liver tissue structure was found in sham group.At 24 hours after modeling in the model group,the changes in pathobiology were found as following:neutrophil infiltration,hepatocytes swelling,hyperemia,and necrosis,as well as the abnormality of parameters reflecting liver function.AGM could significantly improve the pathological changes in liver tissue caused by severe trauma,and ameliorate the liver function.② There were no significant differences in the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in serum and hepatic tissue at 12 hours after modeling,and the parameters at 24 hours in model group were higher than those at 12 hours,which were significantly higher than those of the sham group [serum TNF-α (ng/L):80.8±4.7 vs.34.7±4.7,IL-6 (ng/L):104.0±9.0 vs.55.4±3.3;liver TNF-α (ng/mg):405.2± 19.6 vs.57.2±10.0,IL-6 (ng/mg):58.4±7.7 vs.14.3±2.1,all P < 0.01].AGM could effectively reduce the levels of TNF-o and IL-6 in serum and hepatic tissue [serum TNF-α (ng/L):58.2 ± 3.1 vs.80.8 ± 4.7,IL-6 (ng/L):74.1 ± 6.6 vs.104.0± 9.0;liver TNF-α (ng/mg):248.7 ± 22.5 vs.405.2 ± 19.6,IL-6 (ng/mg):22.5 ± 3.1 vs.58.4 ± 7.7,all P < 0.01].③ The levels of TNF-o and IL-6 in Kupffer cells supernatant were significantly higher than those of the sham group,and they were further increased after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation for 24 hours.AGM could effectively reduce the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in Kupffer cells [TNF-α (ng/L):256.6 ± 5.6 vs.465.5 ± 5.2,IL-6 (ng/L):1 185.5 ± 64.4 vs.2 018.8 ± 53.2,both P < 0.01],and also decreased the mRNA expressions of TNF-α and IL-6 [TNF-α mRNA (2-△△Ct):7.2±0.4 vs.13.5±0.4,IL-6 mRNA (2-△△Ct):13.2±0.7 vs.21.3 ± 1.6,both P < 0.01].Conclusion Agmatine can reduce trauma-induced acute hepatic injury via suppression of cytokines release in Kupffer cells,and can ameliorate the liver function.
2.Study of the prevention of carboplation-induced reproduction damage by gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist
Yanfang HE ; Ping HAN ; Jingyao WANG ; Fengyan XIA ; Fengying CAO ; Yuemin BAI ; Xiangyang YU
Clinical Medicine of China 2008;24(12):1280-1283
Objective To study the effect of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist(GnRHa)against car-boplation-induced gonadotoxicity in rats. Methods Forty Wistar rats were divided into four groups which received carboplation, GnRHa + carboplation, GnRHa and normal saline respectively(n=10 for each group). Blood samples were collected from the abdominal aorta and the levels of blood follicle stimulation hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E<2>) were determined. Both ovaries and uterus of each rat were removed to measure the amount and the maturity of follicles. Body mass and morphological and pathological features of the rats were also observed. Results Compared with that in control group, the body mass of ovary and uterus decreased (P<0.05), and a significant reduction was observed in the number of ovarian follicles at each grade (P<0.05). The levels of E2 significantly lowered (P<0.05) and the level of FSH markedly ascended in group carboplation. Compared with that in group carboplation, the amount of primitive follicles significantly increased in group GnRHa + carboplation (P<0.05), and carboplation showed markedly protective effect on the ovarian and uterine morphological construction of rats. Conclusion Gn-Rha, appliying to preventing the rat reproduction damage in advance, has the certain protective function.
3.The effects of SST for predicting the differentiation of endometrial carcinoma and on cell biological behavior
Qian ZHAO ; Jingyi ZHOU ; Yuan CHENG ; Lijun ZHAO ; Jiaqi WANG ; Fengyan XIA ; Jianliu WANG
Tianjin Medical Journal 2017;45(7):685-690
Objective To investigate the expression levels of somatostatin (SST) gene in endometrial adenocarcinoma tissues and cell lines,and the effects of over-expression of SST gene on the proliferation and invasion of endometrial cancer cell line Ishikawa in vitro.Methods Tissue sections of normal endometrium,endometrioid adenocarcinoma and uterine papillary serous carcinoma were selected to detect the expressions of SST by immunohistochemical method.The total RNA was extracted from fresh specimens that were confirmed as endometrioid adenocarcinoma.According to FIGO staging,samples included G1 (7 cases),G2 (6 cases) and G3 (5 cases) of endometrioid adenocarcinoma.The SST expression levels were detected by real-time PCR.Three endometrial cancer cell lines,Ishikawa,HEC-1A and KLE,were selected and the expression levels of SST were detected by real-time PCR and Western blot assay.Transfection was performed with pLVX-SST and pLVX.The transfection efficiency was observed by fluorescence confocal microscopy.The protein levels of SST were detected by Western blot assay.The assays of CCK-8 and transwell were applied to examine variations in cell proliferation and invasion.Results Immunohistochemical results showed that SST expression was increased in endometrioid adenocarcinoma and uterine papillary serous carcinoma compared with that of normal endometrium.Real-time PCR showed that SST expression was significantly increased in G3 compared with that of G1 and G2 in endometrioid adenocarcinoma (P < 0.05).No matter mRNA or protein,SST levels were significantly increased in endometrial cancer cell line KLE compared with those of Ishikawa and HEC-1A,and the expression levels of SST mRNA and protein were significantly increased in HEC-1A group than those of Ishikawa group (P<0.05).The expression of SST protein was significantly higher in the group of Ish-SST after 2 generations compared with that of Ish-ctr group.There were no significant differences in cell proliferation and invasive ability after over-expression of SST between Ishikawa cell group and control group (P > 0.05).Conclusion SST is highly expressed in poorly differentiated endometrial cancer cells.The proliferation and invasion are not increased after the over-expression of SST in Ishikawa cell line of endometrial cancer.
4.Effects of agmatine on excessive inflammatory reaction and proliferation of splenic cells in mice with trauma
Zheng LIU ; Fengyan HOU ; He JIN ; Ya XIAO ; Xia FAN ; Xue YANG ; Jun YAN ; Huaping LIANG
Chinese Critical Care Medicine 2015;(2):110-114
ObjectiveTo observe protective effects of agmatine (AGM) on inflammatory response and spleen immune function in mice with trauma.Methods Forty-eight adult male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups (n= 16 each), including control group, model group (bilateral femoral fracture and removal of 35% of the total blood volume), and AGM group (trauma/hemorrhage & AGM 200 mg/kg). Eight mice in each group were sacrificed at 3 hours and 24 hours, respectively, after modeling, and blood samples and tissue homogenate of spleen and liver were collected. The contents of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukins (IL-6, IL-1β) in serum and liver tissue were determined with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined with automatic biochemistry analyzer. Spleen proliferation response stimulated with concanavalin A (ConA) was evaluated with methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium colourimetry (MTT).γ-interferon (IFN-γ) and IL-2 releases were determined with ELISA.Results Compared with control group, 3 hours after trauma/hemorrhage, the levels of serum TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in model group were significantly elevated [TNF-α (ng/L): 145.38±31.50 vs. 23.06±11.14, IL-6 (ng/L): 496.94±50.76 vs. 47.13±17.47, IL-1β (ng/L): 321.31±43.02 vs. 29.25±16.24,allP< 0.01]. It was found that AGM treatment could alleviate the increase in serum pro-inflammatory mediators induced by trauma/hemorrhage, such as TNF-α (ng/L:111.56±25.47 vs. 145.38±31.50), IL-6 (ng/L: 412.56±44.33 vs. 496.94±50.76), IL-1β (ng/L: 273.38±45.25 vs. 321.31±43.02,P< 0.05 orP< 0.01). Twenty-four hours after trauma/hemorrhage, serum pro-inflammatory mediators were recovered to the levels in control group. There was no significant difference in TNF-α and IL-6 levels at 3 hours after trauma/hemorrhage among groups. Compared with control group, the expressions of liver TNF-α and IL-6 in model group were increased at 24 hours following trauma [TNF-α (ng/mg): 32.93±4.90 vs. 26.58±2.33, IL-6 (ng/mg): 11.20±1.66 vs. 8.38±0.89,bothP< 0.01]. However, AGM inhibited the level of TNF-α (ng/mg:28.92±3.16 vs. 32.93±4.90) and IL-6 (ng/mg: 9.03±1.28 vs. 11.20±1.66) in the liver as induced by trauma/hemorrhage (P< 0.05 andP< 0.01). At 24 hours after modeling, model group and AGM group had distinctly higher serum AST, ALT, LDH levels than those of control group [AST (U/L): 405.9±31.2, 245.7±22.1 vs. 128.2±15.9; ALT (U/L): 92.1±6.3, 51.6±5.0 vs. 30.1±3.2; LDH (U/L): 606.7±36.3, 478.7±25.3 vs. 384.0±16.6, allP< 0.01]. Nevertheless,the increase in serum AST, ALT and LDH was alleviated in AGM group (allP< 0.01). Meantime, trauma/hemorrhage produced a noticeable depression of proliferation of splenic cells and IFN-γ and IL-2 release stimulated with ConA compared with control group [proliferation rate: (40.97±4.13)% vs. (89.99±7.76)%, IFN-γ(ng/L): 91.6±12.3 vs. 353.2±21.5,IL-2 (ng/L): 53.4±6.4 vs. 91.0±12.2,allP< 0.01]. In contrast, AGM notably restored the capacity of proliferation response of splenic cells [proliferation rate: (74.86±5.75)% vs. (40.97±4.13)%, P< 0.01],enhanced the release of IFN-γ and IL-2 stimulated with ConA [IFN-γ (ng/L): 327.8±23.6 vs. 91.6±12.3, IL-2 (ng/L): 74.8±10.4 vs. 53.4±6.4, bothP< 0.01].Conclusion AGM can dramatically alleviate spleen immunosuppression, excessive inflammation and organ damage induced by trauma/hemorrhage.
5.The effects of agmatine on acute peritoneal inflammatory injury and neutrophil infiltration induced by zymosan in mice
Jia DENG ; Lixing TIAN ; Xiaoyuan MA ; Xia FAN ; Fengyan HOU ; Huaping LIANG ; Yan LUO
Chinese Critical Care Medicine 2016;28(3):225-229
Objective To investigate the protective effect of agmatine (AGM) against peritoneal inflammatory response and neutrophil (PMN) infiltration induced by zymosan (ZYM) in mice. Methods Thirty-six adult male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into sham group, model group, and AGM treatment group. Peritonitis model was reproduced by intra-peritoneal injection of 1 mg/mL ZYM (0.5 mL), while equivalent phosphate buffer saline (PBS) was given to sham group. 200 mg/kg AGM was injected into peritoneal cavity after ZYM challenge in AGM treatment group. Six mice in each group were sacrificed at 2 hours and 6 hours, respectively, after reproduction of the model. Blood sample and peritoneal lavage fluid (PLF) were collected. The levels of keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC), macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukins-6 (IL-6) in serum and PLF were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The number of leukocytes and PMN in PLF were determined by hemocytometer and flow cytometry, respectively. Results Compared with sham group, all serum and PLF levels of KC, MIP-2, TNF-α and IL-6 were greatly elevated at 2 hours after ZYM injection in model group, while AGM treatment could dramatically reduce the levels of the above-mentioned cytokines in serum and PLF as compared with those of the model group [serum KC (ng/L): 990.7±137.9 vs. 2 053.2±262.7, MIP-2 (ng/L): 642.2±124.4 vs. 1 369.7±146.5, TNF-α (ng/L): 608.6±38.1 vs. 1 044.7±101.0, IL-6 (ng/L): 1 058.2±129.1 vs. 1 443.3±190.1; PLF KC (ng/L): 7 462.3±839.6 vs. 12 723.5±1 515.7, MIP-2 (ng/L): 1 570.8±193.4 vs. 3 471.4±384.7, TNF-α (ng/L): 1 115.8±156.7 vs. 1 499.2±231.2, IL-6 (ng/L): 2 646.5±223.2 vs. 3 126.7±291.4; all P < 0.05]. The expressions of KC, MIP-2 and TNF-α at 6 hours were significantly lower than those at 2 hours in model group and AGM treatment group, but IL-6 levels were further increased. The levels of KC and MIP-2 in serum and PLF at 6 hours were decreased to the levels of sham group. At 6 hours after the reproduction of the model, the number of total inflammatory cells and PMN of PLF in the model group was significantly higher than those of the sham group. In contrast, AGM notably lowered the number of inflammatory cells and PMN in peritoneal fluid after ZYM attack [total inflammatory cells (×109/L): 14.7±1.1 vs. 2.0±0.4, 10.1±1.2 vs. 14.7±1.1; PMN (×109/L): 11.37±1.22 vs. 0.18±0.05, 7.69±0.57 vs. 11.37±1.22, all P < 0.05]. Conclusion AGM can effectively alleviate acute peritoneal inflammatory injury induced by ZYM, mainly through reducing the secretion of inflammatory mediators and chemokines, and inhibiting the infiltration of leukocytes and neutrophils.
6.Effect of problem-based learning health educational model on life quality of maintenance peritoneal dialysis patients
Fengyan FAN ; Xia LIU ; Haiyan LI ; Yuhong DING
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2014;20(26):3320-3323
Objective To explore the effect of problem-based learning (PBL) health educational model on life quality of maintenance peritoneal dialysis patients .Methods Forty-six maintenance peritoneal dialysis patients in our hospital were chosen and divided into the control group ( n =22 ) and the experimental group (n=24).The control group received the routine health education , and the experimental group received the PBL health educational model .The treatment compliance and life quality of patients were assessed by the treatment compliance evaluation scale and KDQOL-SF questionnaire survey between two groups 6 months after the intervention.Results The treatment compliance 6 months after the intervention was (3.88 ±0.78) in the experimental group, and was (2.91 ±0.73) in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (t=4.344,P<0.05).The scores of KDTA and SF-36 were respectively (51.40 ±9.24) and (49.39 ±6.17) in the experimental group after intervention , and were higher than those of the control group , and the differences were statistically significant (t=2.614,3.928, respectively;P<0.05).Conclusions PBL health educational model is in accord with the characteristics of health education among maintenance peritoneal dialysis patients , and can improve their life quality, and is worthy of clinical promotion .
7.Clinical features and Y chromosome abnormalities in children with 45, X/46, XY mosaicism
Junke XIA ; Chen CHEN ; Yaqin HOU ; Fengyan TIAN ; Xiangdong KONG
Chinese Journal of Pediatrics 2024;62(2):165-169
Objective:To investigate the clinical and genetic characteristics of children with 45, X/46, XY mosaicism.Methods:The retrospective study included 20 children diagnosed with 45, X/46, XY and 45, X/46, X,+mar mosaicism in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from 2018 to 2022. The clinical features, gonadal pathology, treatment and follow-up were summarized. Genetic tests were performed by SRY gene test, azoospermia factor region (AZF) deletion test, copy number variation-sequencing (CNV-seq). Age at first diagnosis was compared between boys and girls using independent sample t-test. Results:The 20 patients included 3 boys and 17 girls, and the age at first diagnosis were (7.6±5.5) years, it is (2.1±1.9) years in boys, (8.7±5.4) years in girls, significantly younger for boys ( t=-3.86, P=0.004). The chief complaint was external genitalia malformation for boys, and short stature (13 cases) and dysplastic external genital for girls (4 cases). Five girls presented with features of Turner syndrome. The gonadal phenotypes included mixed gonadal dysplasia (MGD, 6 cases), complete gonadal dysplasia (CGD, 10 cases), unilateral ovotestis (2 cases), possible ovaries (1 case) and undetermined gonad (1 case). One female with dysplastic genital was reassigned to male, and the gender of the remaining cases remained unchanged. Seven females were treated with recombinant human growth hormone. The height increased by (17±7) cm during the (2.9±1.2) years follow-up. No gonadal malignancy was observed. The karyotype was 45, X/46, XY in 16 cases, and 45, X/46, X,+mar in 4 cases. All of the 4 marker chromosomes were derived from Y chromosome confirmed by CNV-seq. SRY gene was detected in all 20 patients genome, and AZF deletion was found in 7 girls. Conclusions:45, X/46, XY mosaicism presented with dysplastic external genital or female with remarkable short stature. Gonadal phenotypes included MGD, CGD and ovotestis. AZF microdeletions were found in the majority of female cases.
8.Effect of the protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase pathway in endoplasmic reticulum stress on hepatic stellate cell activation and collagen type Ⅰ expression
Fengyan LI ; Zefeng LIU ; Yuyan XIA ; Wenjuan WANG ; Qi LI ; Lixia TANG ; Guo ZHANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2024;40(5):968-974
Objective To investigate the effect of the protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase(PERK)/eukaryotic initiation factor 2α(eIF2α)pathway in endoplasmic reticulum stress on the activation of hepatic stellate cells(HSC).Methods Pathological sections of normal liver tissue after surgery were collected from 11 patients with hepatic fibrosis(S1-S4)and 9 patients with hepatic hemangioma and hepatic adenoma confirmed by liver biopsy,and immunohistochemistry was used to measure the protein expression levels of PERK,eIF2α,and C/EBP homologous protein(CHOP).Human HSC-LX2 cells were treated with different concentrations of the endoplasmic reticulum stress inducer thapsigargin(0,125,250,500,and 1 000 nmol/L),and qRT-PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression level of PERK,while Western blot was used to measure the protein expression levels of PERK,inositol requiring protein 1(IRE1),activating transcription factor 6(ATF6),CHOP,and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA).The method of lentivirus transfection was used to construct a PERK stable overexpression LX-2 group and a control group;qRT-PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression levels of PERK,eIF2α,and α-SMA,Western blot was used to measure the protein expression levels of PERK,phosphorylated eIF2α(p-eIF2α),and α-SMA,and immunofluorescence assay was used to measure the expression of collagen type Ⅰ alpha 1(COL1A1).The independent samples t-test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups;a one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison between multiple groups,and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups.The Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups.Results Compared with normal liver tissue,the liver tissue of patients with hepatic fibrosis had significantly higher expression levels of PERK,eIF2α,and CHOP(Z=-3.56,t=-5.75,Z=-3.52,all P<0.001).Compared with the solvent group,the groups treated with different concentrations of thapsigargin had significant increases in the expression levels of the endoplasmic reticulum-associated proteins PERK,CHOP,IRE1,ATF6,and α-SMA(all P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the PERK stable overexpression group had significant increases in the mRNA expression levels of PERK,eIF2α,and α-SMA and the protein expression levels of PERK,p-eIF2α,and α-SMA(all P<0.05),and immunofluorescence assay showed a significant increase in the expression level of COL1A1 in the PERK stable overexpression group(P<0.05).Conclusion PERK overexpression can induce the expression of α-SMA and COL1A1 in LX-2 cells,suggesting that the PERK signaling pathway might be one of the important mechanisms of HSC activation.
9.Association of intestinal microecology with the development and progression of autoimmune hepatitis
Yuyan XIA ; Qiongrong ZENG ; Fujian LI ; Fengyan LI ; Qi LI ; Lixia TANG ; Guo ZHANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2024;40(2):374-379
Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic liver inflammation, with a gradually increasing incidence rate, and its social and medical burdens cannot be neglected. Intestinal microecology is becoming a research hotspot in the field of autoimmune disease. In recent years, it has been believed that changes in intestinal microecology can cause changes in autoimmune state, microbial metabolites, and intestinal barrier, which is one of the driving factors for the onset of AIH. Early diagnosis and correct treatment can help to improve the prognosis of AIH patients. This article introduces the characteristics of gut microbiota in AIH patients, elaborates on the impact of intestinal microflora imbalance on the pathogenesis of AIH, and briefly describes related treatment regimens from the perspective of intestinal microecology, so as to comprehensively understand and explain the role of intestinal microecology in AIH and the impact of intestinal microecology balance on the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of AIH.