ObjectiveTo investigate the role of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) inflammation in the pathogenesis of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). MethodsA total of 45 male Kunming mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) group. The mice in the model group and the NAC group were given injection of human serum albumin to establish a model of chronic liver disease, followed by intraperitoneal injection of the endotoxins lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and D-galactosamine (D-GlaN) to induce ACLF, and those in the control group were given injection of an equal volume of normal saline; the mice in the NAC group were given NAC since 1 week before the induction of NAC. The mice in the model group and the NAC group were sacrificed at 48 hours after the injection of LPS and D-GlaN. ELISA was used to measure the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in liver tissue; HE staining was used to determine liver pathological score; ELISA was used to measure the serum levels of LPS and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). LX2 cells were stimulated by LPS and H2O2 with the presence or absence of NAC, and ELISA was used to measure the levels of IL-1β and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in medium. LX2 cells were stimulated by LPS and H2O2, and then HL7702 cells were cultured with LX2 medium; Western blot was used to measure the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-8 in HL7702 cells, and flow cytometry was used to measure the apoptosis of HL7702 cells. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups; the least significant difference t-test was used for comparison of data with homogeneity of variance between two groups, and the Tamhane’s T2 test was used for comparison of data with heterogeneity of variance. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to evaluate survival time, and the log-rank test was used for comparison. ResultsAt 48 hours, all mice in control group survived, while 3 mice in the model group and 8 mice in the NAC group survived, suggesting that the NAC group had a better survival rate of mice than the model group (P＜0.001). Compared with the control group and the NAC group, the model group had significant increases in the serum levels of AST and ALT and the level of MDA in liver tissue, as well as a significant reduction in the level of SOD in liver tissue (all P＜0.01). The model group had a significantly higher liver pathological score than the control group and the NAC group (both P＜0.05). Both LPS and H2O2 promoted the secretion of IL-1β and IL-6 in LX2 cells, and NAC effectively inhibited the pro-inflammatory effect of H2O2 and LPS (all P＜0.05). H2O2 and LPS acted on LX2 cells and promoted the apoptosis of HL7702 cells (all P＜0.05). ConclusionLPS can promote HSC inflammation via reactive oxygen species and participates in the progression of liver failure by inducing hepatocyte apoptosis.

Objective: To investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of rs3130542 and rs4821116 in the HLA-C and UBE2L3 genes and the effect of telbivudine antiviral therapy during pregnancy in HBeAg-positive mothers through a large-sample control study, and to provide a basis for the development of individualized blocking strategies for pregnant women with a high viral load. Methods: The genotypes of rs3130542 and rs4821116 were determined for 312 pregnant women with a high viral load who received telbivudine antiviral therapy during the second or third trimester of pregnancy, and the dominant model, recessive model, and additive model were used to analyze the association between the genotypes of these two loci and the reduction in HBV DNA load. The Shapiro-Wilk test and the Levene test were used to evaluate data normality and homogeneity of variances, and the t-test or the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test was selected based on data type and was used for the comparison of means between groups. The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was used to determine the genotype of SNPs, and the dominant model, recessive model, and additive model were used for analysis. Results: Mothers with an AA/AG genotype of rs3130542 in the HLA-C gene had a significantly higher probability of HBV DNA load ≥10³ IU/ml at the time of delivery (P < 0.05) and a significantly higher risk of failure in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, no matter whether they started to take telbivudine at week 24 or 28 of pregnancy. The association between the genotype of rs4821116 in the UBE2L3 gene and the reduction in viral load in pregnant women needed to be confirmed by studies with a larger sample size. Conclusion Pregnant women with a high viral load and an AA/AG genotype of rs3130542 in the HLA-C gene tend to have poor response to antiviral therapy during pregnancy, and early antiviral intervention is recommended for such patients.