OBJECTIVETo observe the intervention of Dachengqi Granule (DG) on the apoptosis of small intestine smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in rats with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and its mechanisms.

METHODSHealthy 100 adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group (n =20), the MODS model group (n =40), and the DG group (n =40).E. coli suspension was peritoneally injected to rats in the model group and the DG group to establish bacterial peritonitis induced MODS model. DG at 1 mL/100 g was administered by gastrogavage to rats of the DG group, twice daily for 3 successive days. Twenty-four hours after modeling, the proximal segment of intestine was taken and stained by using terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) and immunohistochemistry. Changes of apoptosis quantity of SMCs and the expression of Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), B cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 (Bcl-2) and cytochrome c protein (Cyt c) in mitochondrial apoptotic signaling pathway were observed.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the apoptosis quantity of SMCs and the expression of Bax and Cyt c protein significantly increased, and the expression of Bcl-2 protein significantly decreased in the MODS model group (P <0.01). Compared with the MODS model group, the apoptosis quantity of SMCs and the expression of Bax and Cyt c proteins significantly decreased, and the expression of Bcl-2 protein significantly increased in the DG group (allP <0.01).

CONCLUSIONDG could inhibit apoptosis of SMCs through suppressing activation of mitochondrial apoptotic signaling pathway in intestinal SMCs, thus promoting the recovery of the gastrointestinal motility function in rats with MODS.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Intestine, Small ; physiopathology ; Multiple Organ Failure ; drug therapy ; Muscle, Smooth ; physiopathology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

It is an obvious contradiction between the shortage of kidney donors and the increasing demand for kidney transplantation.Living- related donor kidney transplantation may be a proper resolution,which has been academically proved to be superior to cadaveric kidney transplantation.However,there are still many ethical problems unsolved.Based on ethical theory and the"Seven Principles",we explore possible solutions to the ethical problems of living - related donor kidney transplantation.

Objective To analyze the effect of N-acetyl-L-cysteine(NAC)on endoplasmic reticulum stress mediated HepG2 cells apoptosis and evaluate the role of NAC in the treatment of liver injury.Methods HepG2 cells were treated with thapsigargin(TG)to establish the model of oxidative endoplasmic reticulum stress mediated apoptosis,and NAC was used to intervene in apoptosis.To evaluate the apoptosis,various methods such as MTT assay,flow cytometry,DNA ladder and Western blot were performed.Results After treated with 2 μmol/L TG for 0,24,36 and 48 hours,the vitality of HepG2 cells decreased.The ratio of apoptotic cells increased along with the prolonged treatment duration of TG(0.7%±0.5%,27.6%±6.3%,29.7%±3.3%,47.9%±3.5% respectively,P<0.05),and the production of reactive oxygen species(ROS)also increased in time-dependent manner(14.0%±0.5%,36.1%±3.0%,38.2%±6.0%,48.3%±12.4%,P<0.05).The HepG2 cells showed typical morphologic change of endoplasmic retieulum stress induced by 2 μmol/L TG after 36 h and 48 h.DNA ladder was observed at the same concentration and time point correspondingly.Endoplasmic reticulum stress mediated-apoptosis was confirmed by Western blot.Both 10 mmol/L and 20 mmol/L NAC could protect ceils from apoptosis.The ratio of apoptotic cells decreased to 14.0%±1.3% and 11.0%±0.3%,respectively.The production of ROS decreased to 34.7%±0.8% and 31.5%±2.9%,respectively.The effect was related to the concentration of NAC.Conclusions As a Ca2+-adenosine triphoshatase inhibitor,TG may disrupt intracellular calcium homeostasis,which can induce endoplasmie reticulum stress and apoptosis.NAC,the precursor of the synthesis of-SH,can directly inhibit the ROS reaction and alleviate liver damage,which may play a role in the treatment of liver failure.

Objective To study the expression profile of microRNA (miRNA) and the roles in pathogenesis of acute liver failure in mouse model. Methods Eighty-five BALB/c mice were divided into four groups: 40 in model group of acute liver failure were intraperitoneally injected with Dgalactosamine (D-GalN) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS); 20 in D-GalN group were injected with DGalN only; 20 in LPS group were injected with LPS only; 5 in control group were injected with saline.Liver histology of mouse was observed at hour 0, 5, 7 of injection, and sera and liver tissues were collected at hour 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 of injection. Meanwhile, levels of inflammatory factors [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)] in serum and liver tissue were detected by realtime polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Lock nucleic acid (LNA)-based miRNA microarray technology was used to detect the expression profile of hepatic miRNA, and the expression of miRNA was verified by real time quantification-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Mouse macrophage Raw264.7 cells were induced by LPS in vitro and the expressions of miRNA at different time points were detected.The comparison of means among groups was analyzed using one way ANOVA and the correlation were analyzed by Pearson and Spearman correlation. Results Microarray analysis found that the expression profile of miRNA during the acute liver failure changed dramatically. There were 97 miRNA in model group changed significantly compared with control group (P＜0.01), including 21 up-regulated and 27down-regulated at hour 5 and 7 of injection. Furthermore, the expressions of miR 146a and miR-155were verified by RT-PCR and found they both increased progressively over time after injection.Correlation analysis showed that miR-155 was well correlated with both TNF-α and IL-6 expressions.It was further found that miR-146a and miR-155 were both up-regulated in activated Raw264.7 cells in vitro. Conclusions The expression profile of miRNA changes during acute liver failure in mouse model. Inflammation associated-miR-146a and miR-155 are both up-regulated significantly, which indicatcs that they may play an important regulatory role in pathogenesis of acute liver failurc.

Objective To investigate the expression and function of retinoic acid-inducible gene Ⅰ(RIG-Ⅰ) in monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDC) at different stages of hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection and to explore the role of RIG-Ⅰ in the disease progression after HBV infection. Methods Peripheral blood samples were collected from 28 hepatitis B virus-infected persons, including 21 cases of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and 7 of acute hepatitis B (AHB). Eighteen healthy subjects were recruited as controls. Purified CD14~+ monocytes were isolated by CD14 microbeads. MoDCs were induced from CD14~+ monocytes with granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin (IL)-4 for 7 days, and then were infected with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) to stimulate RIG-Ⅰ expression. The mRNA expression levels of RIG-Ⅰ, interferon (IFN )-promoter stimulating factor-1 (IPS-1) and IFN-β at 16 hours and 24 hours after infection with VSV were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Data with normal distribution were tested by analysis of variance. Continuous variables between groups were compared using Mann-Whitney U test. Comparison among multiple groups was done by Kruskal-Wallis test. Results The expression levels of RIG-Ⅰ in MoDCs from CHB patients were significantly lower than those in AHB patients and healthy controls at 16 hours (2.44±2.03, 19. 54±3. 15, 21. 48±8. 39, respectively; F=7.451,P=0.002) and 24 hours (2. 68±2. 93, 10. 31 ±3. 88, 14. 01 ±5. 04, respectively, F = 7. 908, P = 0. 001)following VSV stimulation. The IPS-1 levels in both CHB patients and AHB patients were higher than those in healthy controls at 16 hours (2. 05±l. 08, 1. 99±1. 56, 0. 60±0. 31, respectively) F=7.246,P =0.003) and 24 hours (2. 27±2. 16, 3.24 ± 1.21, 1. 08±0. 73, respectively; F= 13. 598, P = 0. 001).Furthermore, the IFN-β expression levels were significantly lower in CHB patients compared to AHB patients and healthy controls at 16 hours and 24 hours after VSV stimulation. Conclusions The expressions of RIG-Ⅰ and IPS-1 in MoDC are abnormal in HBV infected persons, which indicates that RIG-Ⅰ signaling pathway might be blocked by HBV. The impaired function of MoDC may play a role in HBV infection and chronicity.

Objective To identify the histological features as well as factors influencing the course of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B virus ( HBV)-infected patients with persistently normal alanine amino-transferase (ALT) levels (PNAL). Methods Ninety-eight HBeAg-negative chronic HBV-infected patients with PNAL who underwent percutaneous liver biopsy were recruited from October 2003 to March 2008. The ALT level, HBV markers, HBV DNA level and liver histological changes were detected. Comparison of means was done by t test and single factor analysis of variance. Nonparametric statistics was done by Marm-Whitey U test and Kruskal-Wallis test. Analysis of independent risk factor was done using Logistic model. The dianostic value of ALT level to significant liver histological changes was evaluated by receiver performance curve. Results Twenty-two point four percent and 17.3% of subjects had the histological activity index (HAI)≥4and fibrosis (F) score≥3 respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that subjects with ALT＞0.50 × upper limit of normal (ULN) had a significantly higher rate of HAI≥4 and F score≥3 than those with ALT≤0.50×ULN (HAI≥4:36.4% vs 11.1%, χ2 =8.881, P=0.003;F score≥3:27.3% vs 9.3%, χ2 =5.487, P= 0.019, respectively), and older subjects (more than 45 years old) had a higher proportion of HAI ≥4 than the younger (33.3% vs 13.4%, χ2 =4.923, P=0.027). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that a decade increase in age was the independent predictor of HAI≥4 (OR=2.410, P=0.023).Receive operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that 87.0% and 90.7% of subjects with ALT＜0.50× ULN had histological changes of HAI＜4 and F score＜3 respectively. The proportions of HAI≥4 and F score≥3 in subjects with HBV DNA＜1×104 copy/mL were 14.9% and 12.8%, respectively. Conclusions Significant histological changes may be present in part of the subjects with persistently normal ALT and different HBV DNA levels, so that liver biopsy is very important, especially in those with age ＞45 years.Half time the ULN may serve as an appropriate cutoff value of normal ALT level for managing Chinese HBeAg-negative chronic HBV-int'ected patients.

Objective To evaluate the clinical and histological outcomes in a cohort of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients who had histologically confirmed severe liver fibrosis and received lamivudine (LAM) therapy for up to 10 years. Methods Thirty-nine CHB patients with severe liver fibrosis (Ishak fibrosis score≥4) were treated with LAM for up to 10 years. Disease progression liver histological improvement, virological and biochemical responses were evaluated during follow-up. Data were analyzed using paired t test, Fisher exact test and Willcoxon test. Results Twenty-eight patients completed the 10-year follow-up. There were 5 (17.9% ) patients with disease progression.At the end of follow up, 16 patients received a second liver biopsy, which showed significant improvement of histological activity index (1.1 ± 1.4 vs 7. 1 ± 3.2, t =- 0.82, P＜0.01 ) and Ishak fibrosis score (3.6±2.2 vs 5.3±0.7, t= -2.89, P＜0.05) compared to baseline. There were 3 cases with Ishak fibrosis score improved from F5 to F0. Among 27 patients, 3(11% ) cases achieved hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss and 2 (7 % ) achieved HBsAg seroconversion. At the end of follow-up, 19 out of 23 (83% ) hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive patients obtained HBeAg loss and 9 (39 % ) obtained HBeAg seroconversion. During LAM treatment, 11 patients experienced virological breakthrough or detected documented LAM-related resistance mutation. The viral loads of all patients were below 1 ×103 copy/mL at the end of follow-up after rescued by add-on or switch to another nucleotide analog.Conclusions Long-term LAM therapy can delay the disease progression in CHB patients with severe liver fibrosis, increase HBsAg and HBeAg loss rates, sustain suppression of HBV replication at a low level and even totally reverse the liver fibrosis in some patients. The effect of LAM resistance mutation on disease outcomes would be reduced by rescue therapy.

Objective To elucidate the roles of TANK-binding kinase-1(TBKl)in hepatitis B virus (HBV)infection induced interferon antiviral immunity.Methods Peripheral blood monocytes were separated by CD14 magnetic microbeads from healthy volunteers(HV)and chronic hepatitis B(CHB)patients.Purified mDCs were induced and proliferated in the culture medium with human granulocyte-macrophage concentration of 25 mg/L were stimulated.The mRNA expressions of TBK1,interferon regulatory factor (IRF)3 and interferon(IFN)-βwere quantified by real time polymerase chain reaction(PCR).The levels of IFN-β in supernatants were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Reslllts The mRNA levels of TBK1,IRF3 and IFN-β did not change significantly at 0,12,24 and 48 h after the significantly at 0, 12, 24 and 48 h in CHB group, whereas, it was significantly up-regulated at 12 h in HV group. Conclusions Our results suggest that there may be some disorders in host antiviral signal transduction pathways downstream the binding between ligands and receptors on mDC surface. The insufficient IFN-β expression after HBV infection may result in persistent chronic infection.

Objective To investigate the effect of hepatitis B virus (HBV) on the immune function of natural killer (NK) cells.Methods Healthy human peripheral blood-derived NK cells were cultured alone,or co-cultured with plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC) (NK∶ pDC=5∶1) for 48 h with or without HepG 2.2.15-derived HBV.Cell activation was assessed by flow cytometry.The specific enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) were used to determine the cytokine production,the cytotoxic effect of NK cells on the carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE)-labelled K562 target cells as well as the granzyme and perforin levels in NK cells.Paired results were analysed using Wilcoxon signed rank test.Results HBV did not affect interleukin (IL)-12/IL-18 and IL-18/interferon α (IFNα)-induced interferon γ (IFNγ) production by NK cells when NK cells were cultured alone (both P＞0.05).However,HBV significantly inhibited pDC-induced IFNγ production by NK cells (146.1 pg/mL),while CpG enhanced pDC-induced IFNγ production by NK cells significantly (1135.4 pg/mL,P=0.0005).HBV did not affect pDC-induced NK cell activation and cytotoxicity to K562 target cells as well as intracellular granzyme and perforin levels.ConclusionHBV does not activate but inhibits pDC-induced NK cell function,which may contribute to the persistence of HBV infection.

Objective To investigate whether a novel long-acting tumor necrotic factor (TNF) antagonist (soluble TNF receptor:IgG Fc [sTNFR:IgG-Fc]) can protect hepatocyte damage against liver failure caused by drugs in immunity-induced cirrhotic rats.Methods Wistar rats were repeatedly sensitized by human serum albumin (HSA) emulsified in complete freud adjuvant.The blood was collected at day 10 after the final sensitization.If anti-albumin antibody was positive,the rats were intravenously injected with HSA twice a week.After six weeks,liver cirrhosis was induced by immunity.All the model rats were divided into three groups with 15 each.Liver failure was induced with D-galactosamine/ lipopolysaccharide (LPS) intraperitoneal injection in the rats with liver cirrhosis in model group.The rats in pretreatment group were intraperitoneally injected with long-acting soluble TNF receptor p55 18 h before D-galactosamine/LPS injection.The control group were injected with 0.9％ sodium chloride.General condition,survival rate,liver function and pathological changes were all examined.Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6,IL-22 and intrahepatic level of IL-6 were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The activity of Caspase 3 in hepatocyte lysis solution was measured by spectrophotography.Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect mRNA expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA),bcl-2,bax and IL-22 receptor.Data were analyzed by variance analysis among groups.Results Rats in model group were dispirited with poor response after 12 hours and only 3 survived,compared with soluble TNF receptor p55 pre-treated group rats,in which all survived (P=0.029 8) with flexible response.Serum alanine aminotransferase levels in these two groups were (6 533± 360) and (105 ± 7) U/L,respectively.Hepatic regenerative nodule developed massive or submassive necrosis with septal fibrosis in model group,whereas soluble TNF receptor p55 alleviated the inflammatory and necrosis reaction of hepatic tissue.Serum IL-6 levels in model group and pretreatment group were (842.0±12.9) and (91.9±1.6) pg/mL,respectively (F=380.30,P＜0.01).Intrahepatic levels of IL-6 in these two groups were (26.2±1.2) and (11.1±0.8) pg/mL,respectively (F=176.90,P＜0.01),and serum IL-22 levels were (167.0±27.8) and (988.0±109.6) pg/mL,respectively (F=37.91,P＜0.01).Hepatic Caspase-3 activity was reduced by almost 60％ by soluble TNF receptor p55 pretreatment (F=303.70,P＜0.01) and bax expression reduced by 22％ (F=108.80,P＜0.01),while bcl-2 and PCNA expressions were up-regulated by 3.6-folds and 23.0-folds,respectively (F=115.60,P＜0.01; F=594.20,P＜0.01).Conclusions Long acting soluble TNF receptor p55 could improve survival rate,liver function and reduce inflammatory reaction of rats with liver failure induced by drugs on the basis of liver cirrhosis caused by immunity,which indicates that this drug may process a potential therapeutic value.