BACKGROUND:A large number of experiments have confirmed that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into hepatocytes under the induction of cytokines and specific micro-environment, and have been widely used in clinical alternative treatment for terminal liver disease, but the optimal inducing conditions are unclear.
OBJECTIVE:To explore the possibility and validity of differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into hepatocytes with a culture system containing salidroside and cholestatic rat serum in vitro.
METHODS:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isolated by plastic adherence from the whole bone marrow of health rats, and cellphenotypes were identified using the flow assay;cholestatic serum was prepared by common bile duct ligation. Passage 3 bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were randomly divided into three groups for in vitro induction by the different culture systems:blank control group:basic medium plus 5%cholestatic serum;salidroside group:basic medium plus 5%cholestatic serum plus 30 μmol/L salidroside;positive control group:basic medium plus 5%cholestatic serum plus 20 μg/L hepatocyte growth factor. Changes of cellmorphology during culture time were observed in each group, reverse transcription-PCR assay and western blot assay were used to expression of hepatocyte-specific proteins.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells highly expressed CD90, CD105, but did not express CD45, CD14, CD34, and CD79a. Polygonal and binucleate cells appeared in the three groups during the procedure of induction. The mRNA and protein expression of alpha-fetoprotein and albumin emerged in the three groups on the 7th day;in the same period, the lowest expression ratio was in the blank control group (P<0.05), while there was no significant difference between the salidroside and positive control groups (P>0.05). Combination of salidroside and cholestatic serum can effectively induce bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells differentiating into hepatocytes.

BACKGROUND:Matrix metaloproteinase-1 can degrade extracelular matrix, which is mainly colagen type I, and has the potential to reverse fibrosis tissue. OBJECTIVE:To construct the recombinant adenovirus vector containing human matrix metaloproteinase-1 (hMMP-1) gene with GatewayTM Clone Technology, and observe the capacity of degrading colagen type IIIin vitro. METHODS: The gene hMMP-1 was amplified by using PCR from the pcDNA3.1 plasmid and was cut down by the double endonuclease. The linear gene fragment was connected to the entry vector pENTERTM 1A. Then the entry clone and the destination vectors pJTI? R4 Dest CMV-N-EmGFP pA Vector recombined using the LR reaction to form the expression clone pAd-hMMP-1-eGFP. The linear pAd-hMMP-1-eGFP cut down by endonucleasePac I was transfected into HEK293A cels to packaging the Ad-hMMP-1-eGFP. The transfected situation was observed under a fluorescence microscope, the target protein expression was detected by western-blot assay and RT-PCR. Cels can be divided into three groups: blank control group: HEK293A cels, AD-EGFP group: HEK293A cels were infected by Ad-eGFP, AD-HMMP1-EGF group: HEK293A cels were infected by Ad-hMMP1-eGFP and colagen type III. The content of colagen type III was detected by ELISA kits after 24, 48 and 72 hours. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: It was confirmed that the entry vector and the destination vector both contained hMMP-1 target gene by restriction analysis and sequencing. The green fluorescent protein was observed in the 293A cels transfected by the Ad-hMMP-1-eGFP at 4 days. The fluorescence intensity was the highest at 10 days. The virus was colected at 12 days, the viral titer was determined as 4.84 × 1010 PFU/mL, the target protein was efficient expressionvia western-blot assay. Blank control group and AD-EGFP group had no obvious change of colagen content with the extension of time. The rate of colagen degradation in AD-HMMP1-EGFP group was 24%, 56% and 81% respectively at 24, 48, 72 hours. AD-HMMP1-EGFP group degraded colagen significantly compared with the other two groups (P < 0.01). The recombinant adenovirus vector containing hMMP-1 was successfuly constructed by using the Gateway technology, this method was more efficient and specific than with the traditional methods. The hMMP1 degraded colagen type III significantlyin vitro.

Hepatic Veins ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; physiopathology ; Portal Pressure

Objective To investigate the effect of Salidroside in inducing apoptosis of rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC) stimulated by acetaldehyde and to observe the changes of c- Jnk N- terminal kinase (JNK) activity.Methods HSC stimulated by acetaldehyde were cultured in vitro and were treated with different concentrations of Salidroside.Apoptotic rate was analyzed by flow cytometry and the activity of phosphorylating JNK was measured by Western blot method.Results Salidroside in different concentrations (1.0,1.5,2.0 mg/mL) suppressed the activity of JNK in a dose- effect manner.Average light density was 35.8? 3.4,24.9? 2.7 and 3.4? 0.9 in Salidroside groups, which differed from that in acetaldehyde group( 48.6? 4.8; P

Arteriovenous Fistula ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal

Objective To investigate the expression of transforming growth factor β1,transforming growth factor beta receptor(TBR)Ⅰ,TβR Ⅱ,Smad4 and C-Jun in rats with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)and to find out the mechanisms of liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD.Methods A total of 18 male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group(n=9)and model group(n=9).The rats in control group were fed with normal diet,and those in model group were fed with fat-rich diet(consisted of 10%lard oil+2%cholesterol).An rats were sacrificed at the 20th week.The levels of TGFβ1,TβR Ⅰ and TβR Ⅱ mRNA were examined by RT-PCR.The expressions of TGFβ1 and Smad4 in liver tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry.The expression of C-Jun protein was detected by Western blotting.Results The NAFLD model was successfully established.The immunohistochemistry examination revealed that TGFβ1 and Smad4 were expressed weekly in control group,but strongly expressed in model group.RT-PCR showed that A values of TGFβ1,TβR Ⅰ and TβR Ⅱ mRNA were 0.46±0.12,5.z4±2.70 and 3.35±1.95,respectively,in model group,which were higher than those in control group(0.21±0.09,1.36±0.77 and 0.52±0.19,all P values＜0.01).The Western blotting results demonstrated that the expression of C-Jun protein in model group(0.93±0.41)was higher than that in control group (0.32±0.25,P=0.001).Conclusion TGFβ1/Smad4 signal pathway might be involved in the development of hepatic fibrosis in NAFLD.Blocking TGFβ1/Smad4 signal pathway will be helpful in treatment of NAFLD.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the agreement and correlation between hepatic vein pressure gradient (HVPG) and portal vein pressure (PVP) in patients with portal hypertension,and explore their clinical value.

METHODSA total of 46 patients with portal hypertension were directly measured the free hepatic pressure, wedged hepatic pressure, portal vein pressure before and after TIPS therapy. The agreement and correlation of HVPG and PVP were analyzed, and explore their clinical value.

RESULTSThere is no significant agreement or correlation between HVPG and PVP in 5 patients, whose third hilar have large communicating branches between portal vein and Inferior vena cava, or with obvious umbilical vein opened. The HVPGs were significantly agreed with portal vein pressure in other 41 patients. There is no significant difference of HVPG or PVP between earlyTIPS and not early-TIPS groups. In addition, the portal vein pressures after TIPS were significantly decreased compared with that before TIPS.

CONCLUSIONThe HVPG can well show the PVP except these with obvious communicating branches between portal vein and Inferior vena cava in third hilar, and TIPS can effectively decrease the portal vein pressure in patients with portal hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the function of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) with over-expressed matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) on liver fibrosis. METHODS: Fifty SD male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: recombinant adenovirus Adhuman MMP-1(hMMP-1)-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) transfected BMSCs group (Group A, n=10), Ad-EGFP transfected BMSCs group (Group B, n=10), liver fibrosis group (Group C, n=15), and a normal group (Group D, n=15). The liver fibrosis model was formed by subcutaneous injection of the mixed liquor of carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) and vegetable oil. After 10 weeks, the model of liver fibrosis was formed. Group A and B were administered the transfected BMSCs via the tail veins, while Group C and D were administered normal saline. After 3 weeks, the rats were sacrificed. The body weight, liver weight, liver function, liver fibrosis indexes and liver pathological changes were tested. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the rats administered BMSCs with over-expressed MMP1 showed a significant improvement in the body weight, liver weight and plasma albumin (ALB) (P<0.05), and a significant reduction in the plasma alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, hyaluronic acid, laminin and procollagen III (P<0.05). Hematoxylin-eosin staining confirmed that the degree of liver fibrosis was significantly ameliorated under average visual fields (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The repair ability of BMSCs on liver fibrosis can be enhanced by over-expression of hMMP-1.
Adenoviridae ; Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; chemically induced ; therapy ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transfection

Objective To analyze the quality of 22 batches of Fritillariae thunbergii bulbus Formula Granules from 12 different manufacturers by using water-extraction reference substance of Fritillariae thunbergii bulbus(ZBM ERS ST)and water-extraction reference substance of Fritillariae hupehensis bulbus(HBBM ERS ST)as references.Methods Ethyl acetate-methanol-triethylamine-water(17∶1∶1∶0.5)was used as the developing solvent for high-performance thin-layer chromatography(HPTLC)fingerprint analysis.The high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)fingerprint analysis was performed on a Agilent Eclipse XDB-C18 column(4.6 mm×250 mm,5 μm)with the gradient mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-0.03%diethylamine solution.The column temperature was set at 25℃and evaporative light-scattering detector was used.The determination was conducted according to standard test method for measurement of Fritillariae thunbergii bulbus Formula Granules(Guangdong PFKL00117).Results The results of HPTLC and HPLC analysis showed that there are significant differences among the 22 batches of Fritillariae thunbergii bulbus Formula Granules.There were 4 batches of Fritillariae thunbergii bulbus Formula Granules from 3 manufacturers among them showed fingerprint characteristics of Fritillariae hupehensis bulbus.The total amount of peimine and peiminine in the remaining 18 batches of Fritillariae thunbergii bulbus Formula Granules was 0.291-3.179 mg·g-1,which were quite different.Conclusion Currently,the quality of Fritillariae thunbergii bulbus Formula Granules on the market varies greatly.Standardized water-extract reference substance has better applicability for the analysis of the quality of Fritillariae thunbergii bulbus Formula Granules than the control medicinal materials.