Objective To investigate the influence of low bilirubin level on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vitro. Methods HSCs were isolated and cultured from the liver of SD rats. The effect of bilirubin in different concentration on reactive oxygen in HSCs was determined by DCFH-DA kit. The proliferation of HSCs was tested by CCK-8 test kit.Smoothmuscle α-actin (α-SMA) expression of HSCs was tested by Western blot.The apoptosis of HSCs was tested by flow cytometry.The fibrosis-related genes were tested by PCR. Results HSCs were isolated and cultured successfully.Bilirubin in low concentration (0,1,10,20 mg/L) inhibited the generation of the reactive oxygen.Proliferation and α-SMA expression of HSCs was inhibited by bilirubin (0.624 ± 0.092,0.536 ± 0.127,0.407 ± 0.033,0.399 ± 0.022,F =13.454,P ＜0.05 ; 339 ± 2,336 ± 10,246 ± 7,242 ± 5,3.7 ± 0.3,F =191.107,P ＜ 0.05 ) and the apoptosis of HSCs was promoted by bilirubin(2.69 ±0.07％,2.95 ±0.10％,4.41 ±0.22％,4.91 ±0.86％,F =34.731,P ＜0.05 ).Bilirubin in low concentration changed the expression of fibrosis-related genes in HSCs.The ratio of TIMP-1mRNA/MMP-2mRNA decreased (54 ± 2,65 ± 2,47 ± 2,44 ± 2,F =73.400,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Bilirubin in low concentration inhibits the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells,orobablv bv a mechanism in which bilirubin promoted antioxidative function.

Objective To study the protective effects of resveratrol against hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and liver fibrogensis.Methods HSCs were isolated from liver of SD rats.The reactive oxygen output in HSCs under resveratrol in different concentrations was tested by DCFH-DA kit.The proliferation of HSCs was tested by CCK-8 test kit.Smoothmuscle α-actin (α-SMA) expression of HSCs was evaluated by Western blotting.The activity-related genes were measured by PCR.The models of liver fibrogenes were established.Resveratrol in different concentrations was administrated intraperitoneally.Liver was studied by pathology and SMA staining.Hydroxyproline content of liver and levels of collagen Ⅲ and hyaluronic acid in serum were tested.Results HSCs were isolated from liver and cultured successfully.Resveratrol inhibited the generation of the reactive oxygen.Proliferation and activation of HSCs was inhibited by resveratrol (0.536 ±0.052,0.411 ±0.047,0.327 ±0.063,0.312 ±0.032,F =12.776,P ＜0.05) (103 ±7,90 ±7,63 ± 4,53 ± 3,F =62.179,P ＜ 0.05).Resveratrol inhibited the expression of genes (myogenic determination gene MyoD,collagen 11 and collagen Ⅰ) in HSCs(122 ± 5,96 ± 3,68 ± 3,60 ± 3,F =180.600,P＜0.05) (100±8,82 ±3,53 ±3,51 ±2,F=77.451,P ＜0.05) (170 ±3,147 ±4,92 ±3,90 ±2,F =462.878,P ＜ 0.05).Resveratrol downregulated the level of hydroxyproline,collagen Ⅲ and hyaluronic acid (358.3 ± 20.2,320.5 ± 15.3,290.3 ± 24.5,F =23.929,P ＜ 0.05) (32.8 ± 3.1,28.9 ±1.3,25.3±1.8,F=20.050,P＜0.05)(276.3 ±17.8,225.3 ±28.3,195.4 ±11.2,F=18.585,P＜0.05).Conclusions Resveratrol can inhibit the proliferation and activation of HSCs and downregulate the fibrogensis level of the liver of rats.

Objective To investigate the influence of fat-specific protein 27 (Fsp27) gene on the regulation of liver fibrogenesis in vivo.Methods Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were isolated from rat liver.Fsp27 gene was detected in primary HSCs and activated HSCs by real-time quantitative PCR (RTqPCR).Lentiviral vector carrying Fsp27 gene was constructed.The model of liver fibrosis was established by infusing carbon tetrachloride (CC14).The rats with liver fibrogenesis were infected by the virus.Liver sections were made to observe the structure and form of liver histocytes.The content of fibrous protein in liver and serum was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and radioimmunoassay.Resukts HSCs were isolated and cultured successfully.The difference of Fsp27 gene between primary HSCs and activated HSCs was significant(P ＜ 0.01).The model of liver fibrosis was achieved.After infecting the model rats,we found the fibrosis level in treatment group was lower compared with control group.Conclusions Fsp27 treatment can decrease collagen deposition in the liver and inhibit the formation of fibrosis.

Objective To explore the effects of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) on the proliferation and invasion of pancreatic cancer cell lines in vitro.Methods ADSCs were isolated and co-cultured with pancreatic cancer cells.The proliferation and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells was tested by CCK-8 test kit.Stromal cell derived factor (SDF-1),vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),matrix metalloproteinase(MMP-9)and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β1)in the culture medium were assayed by ELISA.The expression of cytokines in pancreatic cancer cells and ADSCs were detected by qRT-PCR.CCK-8 test kit was used to measure the AMD3100 regulation for the co-culture of ADSCs and pancreatic cancer cells.Results ADSCs can promote the proliferation and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells (all P ＜0.05); more SDF-1,VEGF,MMP-9 and less TGF-β1 was secreted by ADSCs than by pancreatic cancer cells(SDF-1:1100±100 vs.0 vs.0,F=389.134,P＜0.01;VEGF:140±4 vs.99±5 vs.93 ±4,F=174.102,P ＜0.05;MMP-9:61.8 ±4.2 vs.43.5 ±2.8 vs.54.5 ±3.0,F=76.279,P＜0.05;TGF-β1:20.6 ±3.0 vs.35.6 ±2.6 vs.41.3 ±5.5,F =79.338,P ＜0.05).ADSCs promote the expression of VEGF and MMP-9 in pancreatic cancer cells(VEGF:63.7 ±5.9 vs.50.6 ±4.1,t =7.536,P＜0.05; MMP-9:mRNA(55.8±3.6 vs.42.7 ±3.1,t =8.279,P＜0.05).AMD3100 significantly downregulates these growth-promoting effects of ADSCs on pancreatic cancer cells(SW1990:1.539 ±0.140 vs.1.361±0.066,t=2.835,P＜0.05;PANC-1:1.376±0.100 vs.1.281±0.031,t=2.860,P＜0.05).Conclusions ADSCs promote the proliferation and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells.

Objective To investigate the Fsp27 gene's influence on the regulation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vitro.Methods HSCs were isolated from rat liver,the Fsp27 gene was detected in primary HSCs,and activated HSCs were detected by RT-qPCR.After 72 h of Fsp27 transduction through a lentivirus expressing Fsp27 (pLV-Fsp27),the proliferation of HSCs was tested by the CCK-8 test kit,smooth muscle α-actin (α-SMA) expression of HSCs was tested by Western blot,and the fibrosis-related genes were tested by RT-qPCR.Results The HSCs were isolated and cultured successfully,and the Fsp27 genetic difference between primary and activated HSCs was significant (P＜0.01).After coculture for 72 h,Fsp27 inhibited the proliferation and activation of HSCs (P＜0.05).Fsp27 can enhance expression of the MMP-2 gene and down-regulate expression of the TIMP-1 and TGF-β1 gene in activated HSCs (P＜0.05).Conclusion The Fsp27 gene can inhibit the proliferation and activation of HSCs,regulate the expression of fibrosis-related genes,and may play an important role in maintaining the quiescent phenotype of HSCs.

Objective To investigate the effect of capsaicin on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and liver fibrogenesis.Methods HSCs were cultured.The reactive oxygen in HSCs under capsaicin at different concentrations was tested by DCFH-DA kit.The proliferation of HSCs was detected by CCK-8 test kit.Smoothmuscle α-actin (α-SMA) expression of HSCs was evaluated by Western blot.The fibrosisrelated genes were tested by RT-PCR.The apoptosis of HSCs was measured by flow cytometer.Bcl-2,bax and cyt-c was detected by Western blot.A murine model of liver fibrogenes was established.Capsaicin of different concentration was injected intraperitoneally.Liver pathology was observed using HE staining.Hydroxyproline content of liver and levels of collagen Ⅲ and hyaluronic acid in serum were tested.Results In dose dependent manner capsaicin inhibited the generation of the reactive oxygen species.Proliferation and activation of HSCs was inhibited by capsaicin (respectively F =13.267,57.392,all P ＜ 0.05) and the apoptosis of HSCs was promoted by capsaicin (F =235.571,P ＜ 0.05).Bax,cyt-c and caspase-3 was increased obviously (respectively F =29.334,38.274,138.329,all P ＜ 0.05).Capsaicin changed the expression of fibrosis-related genes (TGF-β1,TIMP-1) in HSCs (respectively F =376.534,253.751,all P ＜0.05).Capsaicin downregulated the level of hydroxyproline,collagen Ⅲ and hyaluronic acid in the rat model (respectively F =153.397,27.149,38.392,all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Capsaicin inhibits the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells.Capsaicin promotes the apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells,and inhibits liver fibrogenesis.

Objective To investigate the effect of adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vitro and on liver fibrosis in vivo.Methods ADSCs and HSCs were isolated from adipose tissue and liver respectively in SD rats.The coculture system was set up by transwell insert.The 5th passage HSCs were cultured on the 6-well plastic plate,and ADSCs or BRLs seeded on the transwell insert.The proliferation of HSCs was tested by CCK-8 test kit.Smoothmuscle α-actin (α-SMA) expression of HSCs were tested by Western blot.Rat models of liver fibrosis was established.Rats in ADSCs treatment group were infused with ADSCs and those in control group were infused with Buffalo rat liver cells (BRLs).Liver sections were studied by immunocytochemistry.Liver hydroxyproline (Hyp) content,serum laminin (LN)and hyaluronic acid (HA) were tested,the cytokines in the culture medium were assayed.Results HSCs and ADSCs were isolated successfully.After coculture for 72 h,compared with the control group,the proliferation and activation of HSCs was inhibited by ADSCs( absorbance of each group were 2.172 ±0.107,1.424 ± 0.013,1.209 ± 0.117,F =90.605,P ＜ 0.05 ; Gray-scale values of each group were 1.4 ± 0.2,152 ± 14,258 ± 18,F =283.348,P ＜ 0.05 ),ADSCs infusion inhibits liver fibrosis in model rats ( F =77.234,65.164,58.309,all P ＜ 0.05 ).More hepatocyte growth factor(HGF) and less transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) (F=1.767,P＜0.05)and nerve growth factor (NGF) (F=2.301,P＜0.05) were secreted by ADSCs than by BRLs.Conclusions ADSCs inhibit the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells.Treatment with ADSCs decreases collagen deposition in the liver and inhibits liver fibrosis.

Objective To evaluate a new method for the isolation of rat pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) and to investigate the influence of adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) on PSCs in vitro.Methods Normal rat PSCs was isolated by collagenase and Optiprep density gradient centrifugation.The coculture system of ADSCs and PSCs was set up by transwell insert.The proliferation of PSCs was tested by CCK-8 test kit.Smoothmuscle α-actin (α-SMA) expression of PSCs were tested by Western blot.The apoptosis of HSCs was tested by flow cytometer.The cytokines in the culture solution were tested by ELISA kit.Results The quantity of PSCs was above 5 × 106 cells per rat.The purity and the viability of the cells were about 90-97 percent.After coculture for 72 h,the proliferation and activation of PSCs was inhibited by ADSCs (F =223.27,P ＜ 0.05 ; F =52.97,P ＜ 0.05) and the apoptosis of PSCs was promoted by ADSCs (F =43.62,P ＜ 0.05).more NGF and less TGF-β1 was secreted by ADSCs than by PSCs (NGF:14.68 ± 0.94 vs.8.31 ±0.86,t =4.67,P ＜0.05;TGF-β1:10.65 ±0.46 vs.70.47 ±0.99,t =21.72,P＜0.01).Conclusions ADSCs inhibit the proliferation and activation of PSCs by ADSCs secreting cytokines.

Objective To compare the difference between bone marrow stomal cell (BMSC) and adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC) of liver fibrosis in rats.Methods BMSC and ADSC of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were isolated and purified.The stem cell markers were detected with flow cytometry.The coculture system was set up with 0.4 μm Transwell insert semipermeable membrane.ADSC or BMSC were co-cultured with hepatic stellate cells (HSC).Normal hepatocyte cell line of rat (BRL) was co-cultured with HSC as negative control group and HSC cultured alone was blank control group.After cultured for 72 hours,the proliferation of HSC was determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method.The expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) of HSC was detected by Western blotting.The apoptosis of HSC was examined by flow cytometry.After BMSC,ADSC and BRL cultured alone for 72 hours,expression level vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),interleukin-10 (IL-10),nerve growth factor (NGF) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in the culture medium were detected by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.The rats model of liver fibrosis were established.The rats were divided into BMSC treatment group,ADSC treatment group,BRL group and culture medium group,six rats in each group,which were injected with 1.5 mL BMSC,ADSC and BRL cells suspension (5 × 106) through portal vein,respectively,and same volume of culture medium was injected to the rate of culture medium group,once every two weeks for four weeks.The pathological changes of liver tissue sections were observed and liver fibrosis markers were tested.T test was performed for comparison between two samples and analysis of variance was used for comparison among multiple groups.Results BMSC and ADSC were successfully isolated and cultured.The phenotype of BMSC and ADSC was similar.Compared with blank control group and negative control group,both ADSC and BMSC could inhibit the proliferation of HSC and promote apoptosis (proliferation,2.43±0.27,2.39±0.33,1.92±0.38 and 2.18±0.31,FBMSC =25.61,FADSC =38.63,both P＜0.05 ;apoptosis rate,(5.59 ± 0.40)％,(6.82±0.57)％,(8.31± 1.03) ％ and (9.36 ± 0.54) ％,FBMSC =73.69,FADSC =97.41,both P＜ 0.05).The effects of ADSC were more significant than those of BMSC (t=5.76 and 5.18,both P＜0.05).There was difference in the cytokine levels secreted by ADSC and BMSC (NGF,(7.46 ± 0.54) pg/mL vs (3.95 ± 0.71) pg/mL,t =10.92,P＜0.05; TGF-β1,(8.79 ±0.93) pg/mL vs (6.36±0.85) pg/mL,t=7.58,P＜0.05).The cell transplantation experiment indicated that both BMSC and ADSC had significant inhibitory effect on liver fibrosis.The activity index of inflammation and degree of fibrosis in BMSC treatment group and ADSCs treatment group were 9.87±2.07,4.17 ± 0.94 and 10.13 ± 1.81,3.98 ± 0.82,which were significantly lower than those in blank control group (13.78±2.53 and 5.09±1.15)and negative control group (13.34± 1.89 and 4.95± 1.22,FBMSC=51.26 and 32.29,P＜0.05; FADSC =46.73 and 40.94,P＜0.05).The level of hyaluronic acid ((191.5±33.2) μg/L and (178.8±28.2) μg/L),type Ⅲ collagen ((19.9±5.1) μg/L and (21.7± 3.3) μg/L) and hydroxyproline ((312.6±38.8) μg/g and (325.8±28.2) μg/g) of BMSC treatment group and ADSC treatment group were significantly lower than those of negative control group and blank control group (hyaluronic acid,(282.3 ± 18.7) μg/L and (287.5 ± 26.7) μg/L),F =73.51 ; type Ⅲ collagen,(35.3± 3.3) μg/L and (32.5±4.3) μg/L,F=76.19; hydroxyproline,(458.4 ± 38.1) μg/g and (473.9 ± 63.7) μg/g,F=60.37,all P＜0.05).However,there was no difference between BMSC treatment group and ADSC treatment (all P＜0.05).Conclusions ADSC and BMSC had similar stem cell characteristics.There was difference in inhibiting the activation of HSC between ADSC and BMSC.But there was no significant difference in inhibiting liver fibrosis of rats in vivo.

Objective To detect the selective inhibitory effects of irradiation plus adenovirusmediated horseradish peroxidase ( HRP)/indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) suicide gene system using tumorspecific and radio-inducible chimeric promoter on human hepatocellular carcinoma subcutaneously xenografted in nude mouse.MethodsRecombinant replicated-deficient adenovirus vector containing HRP gene and chimeric human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) promoter carrying 6 radioinducible CArG elements was constructed.A human subcutaneous transplanting hepatocellular carcinoma (MHCC97 cell line) model was treated with -γ-ray irradiation plus intra-tumor injections of adenoviral vector and intra-peritoneal injections of prodrug IAA.The change of tumor volume and tumor growth inhibiting rate,the survival time of nude mice,as well as histopathology of xenograft tumor and normal tissues were evaluated.Results Thirty one days after the treatment,the relative tumor volumes in the negative,adenovirus therapy,irradiation,and combination groups were 49.23 ± 4.55,27.71 :± 7.74,28.53 + 10.48 and 11.58 ± 3.23,respectively.There was a significantly statistical difference among them (F = 16.288,P ＜0.01 ).The inhibition effect in the combination group was strongest as compared with that in other groups,and its inhibition ratio was 76.5%.The survival period extended to 43 d in the combination group,which showed a significantly difference with that in the control group(x2 = 18.307 ,P ＜0.01 ).The area of tumors necrosis in the combination group was larger than that in the other groups,and the normal tissues showed no treatment-related toxic effect in all groups.However,multiple hepatocellular carcinoma metastases were observed in the liver in the control group,there were a few metastases in the monotherapy groups and no metastasis in the combination group.Conclusions Adenovirus-mediated suicide gene therapy plus radiotherapy dramatically could inhibit tumor growth and prolong median survival time.It might provide a promising therapeutic modality for hepatocellular carcinoma therapy.