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 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.

To investigate the improving effect of inter-chain disulfide formation on protein trans-splicing, we introduce a Cys point mutation at Tyr(664) in heavy chain and at Thr(1826) in light chain of B-domain-deleted FVIII (BDD-FVIII). By co-transfection of COS-7 cell with the two Cys mutated chain genes, the intracellular protein splicing, inter-chain disulfide formation, secreted BDD-FVIII and bioactivity in culture supernatant were observed. The data showed that a strengthened spliced BDD-FVIII with an inter-chain disulfide detected by Western blotting and an elevated secretion of spliced BDD-FVIII (128 +/- 24 ng mL(-1)) compared to control (89 +/- 15 ng mL(-1)), assayed by a sandwich ELISA. A Coatest was performed to assay the secretion of bioactivity in culture supernatant and shown a much higher value (0.94 +/- 0.08 u mL(-1)) compared to that of control (0.62 +/- 0.15 u mL(-1)). It suggests that inter-chain disulfide formation could improve protein trans-splicing based dual-vector delivery of BDD-FVIII gene providing experimental evidence for ongoing in vivo study.

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.

The mutation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene leads to an autosomal recessive genetic disorder cystic fibrosis (CF). The gene therapy for CF using adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors delivering CFTR gene is restricted by the contents limitation of AAV vectors. In this study the split CFTR genes severed at its regulatory domain were delivered by a dual-vector system with an intein- mediated protein trans-splicing as a technique to investigate the post-translational ligation of CFTR half proteins and its function as a chloride ion channel. A pair of eukaryotic expression vectors was constructed by breaking the human CFTR cDNA before Ser712 codon and fusing with Ssp DnaB intein coding sequences. After co-transfection into baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells followed by transient expression, patch clamps were carried out to record the chloride current of whole-cell and the activity of a single channel, and the ligation of two halves of CFTR was observed by Western blotting. The results showed that the intein-fused half genes co-tansfected cells displayed a high whole cell chloride current and activity of a single channel indicating the functional recovery of chloride channel, and an intact CFTR protein band was figured out by CFTR-specific antibodies indicating that intein can efficiently ligate the separately expressed half CFTR proteins. The data demonstrated that protein splicing strategy could be used as a strategy in delivering CFTR gene by two vectors,encouraging our ongoing research program on dual AAV vector system based gene transfer in gene therapy for cystic fibrosis.

The mutation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene leads to an autosomal recessive genetic disorder cystic fibrosis (CF). The gene therapy for CF using adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors delivering CFTR gene is restricted by the contents limitation of AAV vectors. In this study the split CFTR genes severed at its regulatory domain were delivered by a dual-vector system with an intein-mediated protein trans-splicing as a technique to investigate the post-translational ligation of CFTR half proteins and its function as a chloride ion channel. A pair of eukaryotic expression vectors was constructed by breaking the human CFTR cDNA before Ser712 codon and fusing with Ssp DnaB intein coding sequences. After co-transfection into baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells followed by transient expression, patch clamps were carried out to record the chloride current of whole-cell and the activity of a single channel, and the ligation of two halves of CFTR was observed by Western blotting. The results showed that the intein-fused half genes co-transfected cells displayed a high whole cell chloride current and activity of a single channel indicating the functional recovery of chloride channel, and an intact CFTR protein band was figured out by CFTR-specific antibodies indicating that intein can efficiently ligate the separately expressed half CFTR proteins. The data demonstrated that protein splicing strategy could be used as a strategy in delivering CFTR gene by two vectors, encouraging our ongoing research program on dual AAV vector system based gene transfer in gene therapy for cystic fibrosis.

We recently demonstrated that an intein-mediated protein splicing can be used to transfer B-domain-deleted FVIII (BDD-FVIII) gene by a dual-vector. In this study, we observed the effect of a variant heavy chain with six potential glycosylation sites of B domain and L303E/F309S mutations in its A1 domain, which were proven to be beneficial for FVIII secretion, on secretion of spliced BDD-FVIII. By transient co-transfection of cultured 293 cells with intein-fused variant heavy chain (DMN6HCIntN) and light chain (IntCLC) genes, the culture supernatant was analyzed quantitatively by ELISA for secreted spliced BDD-FVIII antigen and by a chromogenic assay for bioactivity. The data showed that the amount of spliced BDD-FVIII protein and coagulation activity in culture supernatant from DMN6HCIntN plus IntCLC co-transfected cells were up to (149 +/- 23) ng x mL(-1) and (1.12 +/- 0.14) u x mL(-1) respectively greater than that of intein-fused wild type heavy (HCIntN) and light chain (IntCLC) co-transfected cells [(99 +/- 14) ng x mL(-1) and (0.77 +/- 0.13) u x mL(-1)] indicating that the variant heavy chain is able to improve the secretion of spliced BDD-FVIII and activity. A cellular mechanism-independent BDD-FVIII splicing was also observed. It provided evidence for ongoing animal experiment using intein-mediated dual-AAV vector technology for delivery of the BDD-FVIII genes.

Objective To explore the evaluation value of dynamic monitoring of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio(NLR)in severity of illness and prognosis of bacterial sepsis.Methods Clinical data and laboratory index of 72 cases of patients with bacterial sepsis in ICU of Yangpu Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University were retrospectively analyzed.According to the severity of illness,patients were divided into sepsis group(n=20),severe sepsis group(n=30)and septic shock group(n=22).According to the mortality within 28 d,patients were divided into survival group(n=47),death group(n=25).The 0 h NLR,48 h NLR and change rate of NLR between two groups were compared,and the influence factors of prognosis were analyzed.Results With the increase of severity of illness,the time of mechanical ventilation was shortened((8.8±1.9)d,(4.6±0.6)d,(3.9±0.4)d),and PLT((146.4±45.8)×109/L,(110.6±41.3)×109/L,(102.5±38.6)×109/L),NLR rate(0.61±0.26,0.26±0.11,0.22±0.09)were decreased significantly,APEACHE Ⅱ score,CRP,PCT,0 h NLR,48 h NLR were increased obviously((18.5±2.3)points,(20.4±3.6)points,(23.1±3.9)points;(72.6±10.4)mg/L,(78.2±11.6)mg/L,(85.2±12.5)mg/L;(1.5±0.4)μg/L,(2.3±0.6)μg/L,(2.7±0.9)μg/L;11.3±2.6,14.2±3.4,15.7±3.5;3.4±0.9,9.7±2.4,11.2±2.6),the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Compared with death group,the time of mechanical ventilation in survival group was prolonged((4.1±0.3)d vs.(8.7±1.4)d),APEACHE Ⅱ score,CRP,PCT,0 h NLR,48 h NLR were decreased obviously((21.4±3.5)points vs.(18.3±2.6)points,(78.2±11.6)mg/L vs.(71.5±10.8)mg/L,(2.5±0.7)μg/L vs.(1.4±0.6)μg/L,(15.0±3.3)vs.(11.6±2.4),(10.5±2.8)vs.(3.2±0.8)),and PLT,NLR rate were increased significantly((106.5±41.5)×109/L vs.(148.4±50.8)×109/L,0.24±0.10 vs.0.65±0.24),the differences were statistically significant(t=16.18,4.26,2.44,6.99,5.01,16.73,3.54,8.15,P＜0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that APEACHE Ⅱ score,0 h NLR were the independent risk factors of death in patients with bacterial sepsis(OR=3.99,3.01,95％CI:1.65-2.38,1.99-4.54,P＜0.05),and NLR rate was independent protection factor(OR=0.95,95％CI:0.91-0.97,P＜0.05).Conclusion Dynamic monitoring of peripheral blood NLR can help to judge the prognosis and severity of illness of patients with bacterial sepsis,and NLR before treatment and change rate of NLR are an independent predictors of death.

Objective　To explore the suppressive effects of urokinase amino-terminal fragment (ATF) gene on metastatic potential of human breast cancer cell line MCF-7.　Methods　A pcDNA3-ATF plasmid containing ATF cDNA under CMV promotor/enhancer control was constructed and transfected into MCF-7 cells by lipofectin. The expression of of uPA/uPAR and ATF in MCF-7 cells were analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blot. The effect of ATF expression on invasiveness in vitro, tumorigenesis and metastasis in vivo of MCF-7 cell was investigated.　Results　MCF-7 cells displayed an overexpression of uPA/uPAR. Expression of ATF was detected after ATF gene-transfection. The invasive capacity of ATF gene-transfected MCF-7 cells was decreased significantly. Although the tumorigenesis was not affected, the in vivo metastasis of ATF gene-transfected MCF-7 cells was remarkably inhibited.　Conclusion　Suppression of invasiveness and metastasis of ATF-transfected MCF-7 cells is perhaps due to a competitive inhibition of interaction with endogenous uPA/uPAR.