Objective To analyze the related immune parameters in liver transplantation recipients to help guide adjusting future immunosuppressants.Methods Fifty-three tolerant recipients after liver transplantation were included in this study.They had normal liver functions and took only one immunosuppressive drug.They were divided into the 3 ～5 years tolerance group (3Y group,n =21) (including 5 years) after transplantation,and the 5 ～ 11 years tolerance group (5Y group,n =32).Another 15 liver transplantation recipients who had twice or more recurrent acute rejections were enrolled as the RJ group and 32 age-matched healthy donors served as the HC group.The natural killer (NK) cells,B cells,memory T cells,regulatory T cells (Tregs) and the subsets were detected by flow cytometry.The plasma TGF-β level was evaluated using ELISA.Results The percentages of NK cells (3Y group 19.00 ± 0.09,5Y group 20.00 ±0.09,HC group 14.00 ±0.07,RJ group 9.00 ±0.03) and total Tregs within the CD4+ cells (3Y group 6.26 ±2.33,5Y group 4.80 ±2.21,HC group 3.04 ± 1.25,RJ group 1.09 ±0.81) in the 3Y,5Y and HC groups were significantly higher than those in the RJ group (P ＜ 0.05).The proportions of resting Tregs (3Y group 0.23 ±0.07,5Y group 0.16 ±0.02,HC group 0.07 ±0.02,RJ group 0.05 ±0.01),active Tregs (3Y group 0.56 ± 0.11,5Y group 0.42 ± 0.15,HC group 0.08 ± 0.02,RJ group 0.05 ± 0.01) and non-suppressive Tregs (3Y group 3.51 ±0.80,5Y group 3.71 ±0.41,HC group 1.44 ±0.14,RJ group 2.15 ± 0.62) increased significantly in the tolerant recipients after liver transplantation when compared with those in the HC and RJ groups (all P ＜ 0.05).No significant differences on B cells,memory T cells and TGF-β level were detected among in four groups.Conclusions The NK cells,total Tregs,resting Tregs,active Tregs and non-suppressive Tregs increased significantly in the tolerant recipients after liver transplantation.These might serve as potential biomarkers for immune tolerance.

ObjectiveTo demonstrate the efficacy and safety of Hangzhou tacrolimus capsule (Saishi Tac capsule,Hangzhou Zbongmei Huadong Pharmaceutical Co.Ltd,China) in Chinese liver transplant recipients.MethodsMulticenter,randomized open-labeled,prospective controlled clinical trial was performed in de novo Chinese liver transplant recipients.According to inclusive and exclusive criterion,83 liver recipients from 11transplant centers were enrolled.The recipients accepted Saishi Tac capsule,mycopheolate and steroid 48 h post-operation.The initial dose of Tac was 0.1-0.15 mg kg-1day-1and C0 was 8-12 ng/ml in the first 60 days,followed by 5-10 ng/ml until the terminal observation time poiut (12 weeks after transplantation).The efficacy and safety were estimated during the period.The primary efficacy endpoint of the study was the incidence of biopsy-confirmed acute rejection.Graft survival was the secondary endpoint.Safety was assessed by monitoring laboratory parameters and adverse events reported over the course of the study,such as infection,renal damage,hypertension,hyperlipema and diabetes mellitus and other adverse affairs.ResultsThe dose of Tac at 1st,2nd,4th and 8th week post-operation was (4.1±1.9),(4.5±2.1),(4.5±2.1),(4.4±1.8) and (4.1±2.1) mg,and correspondjng values to the C0 were (8.1±4.5),(8.9±4.5),(8.8±4.3),(8.8±4.1) and (8.0±2.8) ng/ml.During 12 weeks of follow-up,the incidence of biopsy-confirmed acute rejection was 4.8％ (4/83),and all of cases were reversed by implosive therapy.The survival rate of graft hver was 100％.The incidence of lung infection and diabetes mellitus was both 6.02％.ConclusionSaishi Tac capsule was safe and effective to Chinese liver transplant recipients.

OBJECTIVETo determine whether the miRNA expression profile in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) differs between liver transplant recipients with long-term stable survival and those with acute rejection.

METHODSTwenty-nine liver transplant recipients with long-term stable survival (STA) group, 10 recipients with acute rejection (RJ group), and 17 healthy subjects (control group) were recruited for genome-wide microarray analysis of miRNA expressions in the PBMCs. The differentially expressed miRNAs among the 3 groups were validated by real-time PCR, and the targets of these miRNAs were predicted.

RESULTSCompared with the RJ group, the STA group showed down-regulation of 13 miRNAs in the PBMCs. Of these down-regulated miRNAs, miRNA-18b, miRNA-340 and miRNA-106b were validated by real-time PCR, and the latter two miRNAs were predicted to target the TGF-β pathway.

CONCLUSIONSThe differentially expressed miRNAs in liver transplant recipients with long-term stable survival, namely miRNA-18b, miRNA-340 and miRNA-106b, can be potential clinical biomarkers to predict the outcomes of liver transplantation.

Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Down-Regulation ; Graft Rejection ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Liver Transplantation ; MicroRNAs ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Survival Rate ; Transforming Growth Factor beta

Objective:To investigate the cytopathic effect of amino acids 86-175 of rotavirus non-structural protein 4 (NSP4 86-175) on rat cardiomyocytes and the possible mechanism. Methods:Rat H9C2 cardiomyocytes were treated with NSP4 86-175 protein. Changes in the growth and morphology of the cells were observed. The activity of LDH in the cell culture medium was detected. Fluo-3AM was used to label intracellular free calcium ions and the concentrations of calcium ions in rat cardiomyocytes with and without NSP4 86-175 treatment were detected by confocal laser microscopy. The expression of Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78), C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) and caspase-12 at mRNA level was detected by real-time PCR. The expression of caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, GRP78, CHOP and caspase-12 at protein level was detected by Western blot. Results:Normal cardiomyocytes showed a typical myoblast-like morphology, presenting as spindle-shaped cells with clear boundaries. Obvious cytopathic effect, vacuolar degeneration, shriveled and rounded cells, and cell fragmentation were observed after the treatment with purified NSP4 86-175 protein. The activity of LDH in cell culture medium was enhanced by NSP4 86-175 protein. NSP4 86-175 protein also enhanced the fluorescence of the calcium ions in rat cardiomyocytes, promoted cell apoptosis, up-regulated the expression of apoptotic factors including caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9 and Bax-2, and increased the expression of classical markers of endoplasmic reticulum stress such as GRP78, CHOP and caspase-12. Conclusions:NSP4 86-175 had a cytopathic effect on rat cardiomyocytes, which might be related to the induced intracellular calcium overload, endoplasmic reticulum stress, apoptosis and necrosis. These results might be used as theoretical reference for further study on rotavirus infection and myocardial injury.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the improvement effect and mechanism of calycosin （CA） on acute inflammatory injury secondary to intracerebral hemorrhage. METHODS Male C57BL/6 mice were injected with type Ⅶ collagenase into the basal ganglia to establish an intracerebral hemorrhage model， which were divided into sham-operation group（phosphate buffered saline instead of collagenase）， model group， and different CA dose groups（15，30，60，120 mg/kg）. Based on the modified neurological severity score （mNSS） to screen the intervention doses， the volume of intracerebral hemorrhage， brain water content， the expressions of ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 （Iba1） in brain tissue， Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4） and its downstream inflammatory factors [tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， inducible nitric-oxide synthase （iNOS）， interleukin-1β （IL- 1β）] in brain tissue， and the apoptosis of cells in brain tissue were detected. Primary microglia were cultured in vitro， and the expressions of TLR4 and its downstream inflammatory factors were detected. Primary neurons and primary microglia were co- cultured in vitro， and the apoptosis of neurons was detected. RESULTS The doses of 30 mg/kg and 60 mg/kg were selected as intervention doses of CA for subsequent experiments. Compared with the sham-operation group， the mice in the model group had cerebral hemorrhage， the volume of cerebral hemorrhage and brain water content were significantly increased （P＜0.05）； the positive expression rate of Iba1 protein in brain tissue was significantly increased， and the relative expression levels of TLR4， TNF-α， IL-1β and iNOS protein in brain tissue were up-regulated significantly. The apoptosis rate also increased significantly （P＜0.05）. Compared with model group， the above indexes of the mice in the 30 and 60 mg/kg CA groups were significantly improved （P＜0.05）. CA significantlyreduced the relative expression levels of TLR4 and its downstream inflammatory factors in microglia， and reduced the apoptosis of neurons in the co-culture system of primary neurons and primary microglia （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS CA can exert a protective effect on the brain， which may be related to relieving the secondary acute inflammatory injury after intracerebral hemorrhage by inhibiting TLR4-mediated inflammatory response.

ObjectiveTo identify the chemical components of Houpo Wenzhongtang in vivo and in vitro and to analyze the pharmacokinetic properties of the index components in rats with deficiency-cold of spleen and stomach. MethodThe chemical components of Houpo Wenzhongtang was analyzed and identified by ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS）. Six rats were randomly selected from 18 SD rats as the blank group， and the remaining rats were given lard and cold vinegar for a long time to construct a rat model with deficiency-cold of spleen and stomach. After successful modeling， the rats were randomly divided into the model group and Houpu Wenzhongtang group（13.5 g·kg^-1， calculated as crude drug）. The administration group was given the corresponding dose of Houpu Wenzhongtang by gavage， and the blank group and the model group were given the same amount of distilled water by gavage. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） were used to measure gastrin（GAS） and motilin（MTL） levels in each group. At the same time， plasma samples were collected at different time points after administration， and blood-entry prototype components and metabolites of Houpo Wenzhongtang were analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. On this basis， plasma concentrations of magnolol， honokiol， alpinetin and hesperidin in Houpo Wenzhongtang were determined by ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole/linear ion trap mass spectrometry（UPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS）， and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using DAS 2.0 software. ResultA total of 79 chemical components， including 44 flavonoids and 11 lignans， were identified in Houpo Wenzhongtang. Meanwhile， 18 blood-entry prototype components and 27 metabolites were identified， the main metabolic pathways of metabolites were glucuronidation， sulfation， oxidation and hydrolysis， and phase Ⅰ and phase Ⅱ were the two primary forms of metabolism. Pharmacokinetic results showed that among the four index components， the time to peak（t_max） values of magnolol and honokiol were consistent and exhibited similar drug metabolism characteristics， the t_max of alpinetin was the shortest， and the absorption rate was the fastest， which had the earliest peak plasma concentration levels， and hesperidin had the shortest mean residence time（MRT_0-t） and the highest metabolic rate in rats. ConclusionThis study clarifies the blood-entry prototype components and their metabolites of Houpo Wenzhongtang in the rat model of deficiency-cold of spleen and stomach， and reveals the pharmacokinetic characteristics of the main active ingredients， which can provide a scientific basis for the study of pharmacodynamic material basis of this formula and its clinical application in treating the syndrome of deficiency-cold of spleen and stomach.