OBJECTIVETo develop and evaluate a mouse model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) induced by a high-fat and high-fructose (HFHFr) diet.

METHODSSix-week-old C3H mice were randomly divided into groups for HFHFr diet experimental modeling, high fat-only (HF) diet controls, high fructose-only (HFr) diet controls, and standard chow (SC) diet controls. The standard HFHFr diet was modified so that it consisted of 76.5% standard chow, 12% lard, 1% cholesterol, 5% egg yolk powder, 5% whole milk powder, and 0.5% sodium cholate, along with 20% fructose drinking water. At the end of experimental weeks 4, 8, and 16, measurements were taken for the NASH-related parameters of body mass, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lipid profile, and wet liver weight (upon sacrifice). In addition, histological changes in the liver were evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and oil red O staining. The significance of differences between groups was assessed by statistical analysis, using the

METHODSof t-test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, x2 test, F test or Fisher's test as appropriate.

RESULTSAs compared to the mice in the SC group at the corresponding time points, the mice in the HFHFr and HF groups showed significantly higher body mass and wet liver weight, as well as more extensive and robust lipid disposition in hepatic tissues as evidenced by oil red O staining. However, HE staining indicated that the HFHFr and HF groups had different degrees of macrosteatosis accompanied with intralobular inflammatory foci, with the former showing more remarkable NASH-related histological changes. Analysis at the end of week 16 showed that about 80% of the mice in the HFHFr group had developed NASH [nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) activity score (NAS): less than 5]. The levels of low-and high-density lipoprotein (LDL and HDL) cholesterol, as well as the levels of ALT and AST, were increased from the end of week 4 to the end of week 8 for the HFHFr and HF groups. At the end of week 16, the two groups differed in the extent of increase in total cholesterol and LDL and HDL cholesterol, with only the HFHFr group showing statistically significant changes. Specifically, at the end of week 16, the HFHFr group showed ALT levels of 108.5 +/- 93.34 U/L (F=5.099, P =0.005 vs. HF group: 44.30 +/- 35.71 U/L, HFr group: 46.70 +/- 17.95 U/L, SC group: 24.70 +/- 6.57 U/L), AST levels of 316.30 +/- 208.98 U/L (F=6.654, P=0.001 vs. HF: 132.12 +/- 75.43 U/L, HFr: 143.30 +/- 38.53 U/L, SC: 122.60 +/- 12.76 U/L), total cholesterol levels of 5.18 +/- 0.58 mmol/L (F=72: 470, P =0.000 vs. HF: 3.94 +/- 0.75 mmol/L, HFr: 2.30 +/- 0.50 mmol/L, SC: 2.02 +/- 0.24 mmol/L), HDL cholesterol levels of 3.05 +/- 0.49 mmol/L (F=25.413, P =0.000 vs. HF: 2.65 +/- 0.54 mmol/L HFr: 1.77 +/- 0.47 mmol/L, SC: 1.58 +/- 0.16 mmol/L), LDL cholesterol levels of 1.11 +/- 0.23 mmol/L (F =83.297, P =0.000 vs. HF: 0.72 +/- 0.17 mmol/L, HFr: 0.27 +/- 0.04 mmol/L, SC: 0.20 +/- 0.05 mmol/ L).

CONCLUSIONThe present study suggests that a mouse model of NASH can be successfully induced by a 16-week modified HFHFr diet.

Animals ; Diet, High-Fat ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fructose ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C3H ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

To investigate the effect of glycyrrhizinate and phospholipids (DGPL) complex on inflammatory gene expression in cell inflammation model induced by palmitic acid (PA).Huh7 cells were divided into control, PA and PA+DGPL groups. For control group, cells were treated with BSA; for PA group, cells were incubated with 0.2 mmol/L saturated fatty acid PA, PA+DGPL group was given 20 μmol/L or 100 μmol/L DGPL in addition to 0.2 μmol/L PA. After 24 h, the expression of inflammation-related genes COX-2 and iNOS and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related gene GRP78 was determined by RT PCR. Oil red staining was conducted to observe the effect of DGLP on steatosis.Compared with control group, the expression of COX-2, iNOS and GRP78 in PA group was enhanced to 6.07±0.73(<0.05), 3.18±0.91 (<0.01) and 3.21±1.00(<0.05), respectively. Compared to control group, the expression of COX-2,iNOS and GRP78 in 100 μmol/L DGPL group was reduced to 2.40±0.76, 1.60±0.49 and 1.17 ±0.42 (<0.05); and 20 μmol DGPL had similar inhibition effect on COX-2 and iNOS elevation induced by PA (<0.01,<0.05 respectively). In addition, DGLP enhances the steatosis of Huh7 cells as demonstrated by oil red staining.PA can induce the up-regulated expression of inflammation associated genes COX-2, iNOS and ER stress-associated gene GRP78 in Huh7 cells. DGPL is able to protect Huh7 cells from PA induced inflammatory gene expression and the beneficial effect may be partially due to its unsaturated phospholipid component, which may improve ER stress and enhance steatosis.

OBJECTIVETo explore the repair effects of acupuncture for promoting the governor vessel and tranquilizing the mind (acupuncture technique) on cerebral white matter injury of premature infants.

METHODSA total of 56 cases of cerebral whiter matter injury of premature infants, the fetal age less than 35 weeks were selected and randomized into an observation group (27 cases) and a control group (29 cases). The routine basic rehabilitation therapy was used in the two groups. Additionally, in the observation group, the acupuncture technique was added, once a day and the treatment for 15 days was as 1 course. Totally, 3 courses of treatment were required. Before and after treatment, the cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) were adopted to observe the location and severity of cerebral white matter injury. The Gesell developmental scale was used to assess the nerve motor development.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the difference was not significant statistically in the severity of cerebral white matter injury in the infants between the two groups (>0.05). The FA value of cerebral white matter in the interesting zone was increased as compared with that before treatment in the infants of the two groups (both<0.05). The result in the observation group was higher than that in the control groups (<0.05). After treatment, DQ value of each function zone in Gesell scale was all increased as compared with that before treatment in the two groups (all<0.05). After treatment, the DQ values of gross motor, fine motor and social adaptability in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (all<0.05). After treatment, the difference was not significant in DQ value of individual-social and speech behaviors between the two groups (both>0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture technique for promoting the governor vessel and tranquilizing the mind promotes the repair of the function in the premature infants with cerebral white matter injury and further benefits the promotion of the intelligence.

Objective: To investigate the role of neutrophil elastase inhibitor, sivelestat, in preventing and treating nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and its underling mechanisms. Methods: A total of forty 4-week-old male C57BL/6J ApoE-/-mice were equally divided into the following four groups: standard chow (SC)+isotonic saline; SC+sivelestat; high-fat, high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet+isotonic saline; and HFHC+sivelestat. These mice were treated with above methods for 12 weeks. Blood and liver tissue samples were collected to measure biochemical parameters, hepatic steatosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) activity score (inflammation) were evaluated by oil red O staining and HE staining, respectively. The mRNA and protein expression levels of hepatic inflammatory cytokines, CD68, and F4/80 were determined by quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Comparison of means between the four groups was made by one-way analysis of variance, and comparison between any two groups was made by the LSD or SNK method (for data with homogeneity of variance) or the Tamhane or Dunnett method (for data with heterogeneity of variance). Results: Mice fed with an HFHC diet for 12 weeks developed typical pathological features of NASH compared with those fed with SC. Compared with mice fed with HFHC diet without sivelestat, those treated with HFHC and sivelestat exhibited the following features: (1) significantly reduced fast blood glucose, blood cholesterol, and hepatic biochemical parameters, as well as increased insulin sensitivity; (2) significantly reduced NAFLD activity score (5.71±1.11 vs 3.16±1.16, P < 0.05); (3) reduced monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and tumor necrosis factor -α; (4) significantly reduced mRNA levels of CD68 and F4/80; and (5) reduced expression of CD68 in the liver. Conclusion Sivelestat alleviates the hepatic steatosis and inflammation of NASH in mice by inhibiting the activation of Kupffer cells.

To prepare a lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-based subunit vaccine of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) antigen EsxV and study its immunological characteristics, the LNP containing EsxV and c-di-AMP (EsxV: C: L) was prepared by thin film dispersion method, and its encapsulation rate, LNP morphology, particle size, surface charge and polyphase dispersion index were measured. BALB/c mice were immunized with EsxV: C: L by nasal drops. The levels of serum and mucosal antibodies, transcription and secretion of cytokines in lung and spleen, and the proportion of T cell subsets were detected after immunization. EsxV: C: L LNPs were obtained with uniform size and they were spherical and negatively charged. Compared with EsxV: C immunization, EsxV: C: L mucosal inoculation induced increased sIgA level in respiratory tract mucosa. Levels of IL-2 secreted from spleen and ratios of memory T cells and tissue-resident T cells in mice were also elevated. In conclusion, EsxV: C: L could induce stronger mucosal immunity and memory T cell immune responses, which may provide better protection against Mtb infection.
Animals ; Mice ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Antigens, Bacterial ; Immunization ; Nanoparticles ; Vaccines, Subunit ; Mice, Inbred BALB C