Objective To observe the dynamic changes of leptin and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 in formation of liver fibrosis in rats,and the role of leptin in liver fibrosis.Methods Six rats were served as normal control(0 week)and killed at the beginning of the study.Thirty-two rats were subcutaneously injected with 60%CCl4 to establish fibrotie models.The rats were than sacrificed at 3,6,9 and 12 weeks with eight each.Expressions of leptin mRNA,Ob-Rb mRNA,TGF-β1 mRNA and TGF-βRⅡmRNA in liver were detected by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Expression of Smad3 and Smad7 proteins were determined by Western blot.The expression and loealization of leptin,Ob-Rb and TGF-β1 in liver tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results The expression of leptin mRNA,Ob-Rb mRNA,TGF-β1 mRNA and TGF-βR Ⅱ mRNA in 0 week were 0.43±0.45,0.57±0.21,0.19±0.12 and 0.30±0.22,respectively,and increased to 1.27±0.19,1.70±0.29,1.70±1.00 and 2.14±1.02 at 12 weeks(P＜0.05).At the same times the level of Smad3 increased from 0.44±0.24 at 0 week to 1.75±1.05 at 12 weeks.While the expression of Smad7 was decreased from 1.35±0.12 at 0 week to 0.74±1.21 at 12 weeks(P＜0.05).The expressions of leptin,Ob-Rb and TGF-β1 were increased with the formation of the fibrosis(P＜0.01).Conclusions With the development of liver fibrosis,the expressions of leptin,Ob-Rb mRNA and protein are increased and improved the formation of the fibrosis.Its mechanisms may be correlated with up-regulation of TGF-β1,TGF-βR Ⅱ and Smda3 expressions and down-regulaton of Smad7 expression by leptin.

Autophagy is one of the most common protective mechanisms during plant stress response. We studied the effect of exogenous Cd on autophagy in celery, by using transcriptome sequencing technique to analyze the differentially expressed genes under different Cd concentrations (0, 2, 4 and 8 mg/L). Eight differentially expressed autophagy-related genes were screened and identified by qRT-PCR. Cd had obvious toxic effect on celery, in a dose-dependent manner. Eight differentially expressed autophagy-related genes were screened, among which ATG8a, ATG8f, ATG13, AMPK-1 and AMPK-2 were up-regulated, whereas ATG12, VPS30 and VPS34 were first up-regulated and then decreased. The up-regulated expression of differential genes may resist Cd toxicity by increasing autophagosome structures; however, 8 mg/L Cd exceeded the autophagosome tolerance limit of celery, resulting in decreased expression of multiple autophagy-related genes. The above results can provide help for subsequent functional study of autophagy-related genes, and provide a reference for further exploring the tolerance mechanism of celery to Cd toxicity.

Humans ; Aripiprazole/therapeutic use* ; Schizophrenia/drug therapy* ; Antipsychotic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Risperidone ; China ; Treatment Outcome