1.Current research status and challenges of animal models for hepatitis B
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(1):26-32
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the major global health problems, and it can lead to the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Due to the strict species specificity of HBV infection, no animal model has yet been established to fully support the complete life cycle of HBV infection and accurately reflect host immune responses and pathogenesis. Current animal models used for HBV research include various hosts such as chimpanzees, tree shrews, and mice, as well as surrogate models based on related hepatotropic viruses. Although these models have contributed significantly to the research on HBV replication, immune response, and antiviral drug evaluation, they still have certain limitations such as ethical concerns, low infection efficiency, high costs, and a lack of persistent infection. In recent years, the development of novel strategies, such as humanized mouse models with reconstituted human liver and immune systems, transgenic models, and viral vector-mediated infection systems, has greatly promoted the research on HBV biology. In the future, with the integration of emerging technologies including gene editing, tissue engineering, and multi-system reconstruction, it is possible to establish HBV infection models that can more closely mimic human pathophysiology, thereby laying a robust foundation for understanding virus-host interactions, exploring the pathways for viral clearance, and developing radical treatment strategies.
2.Effects of erianin on the apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells in rats with polycystic ovary syndrome and its mechanism
Lina FANG ; Yanyi LI ; Chao DONG ; Lili XU ; Zhaosong SHI ; Yuedong LI ; Bo YANG ; Zaichao XU
China Pharmacy 2024;35(11):1339-1344
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of erianin (ERI) on the apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells in rats with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and its mechanism. METHODS PCOS rat model was constructed by subcutaneous injection of dehydroepiandrosterone, and the successfully constructed rats were randomly divided into PCOS group, ERI low-dose, medium- dose and high-dose groups (10, 20, 40 mg/kg) and ERI high dose + verteporfin group (40 mg/kg ERI + 10 mg/kg verteporfin), with 10 rats in each group. Another 10 normal rats were selected as the normal group. Rats in each administration group were given corresponding dose of ERI and/or intraperitoneal injection of vitiporfin, and rats in the PCOS group and normal group were orally administered an equal volume of 1% dimethyl sulfoxide, once a day, for 6 consecutive weeks. After administration, the body weight, fasting blood glucose (FPG), serum levels of estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were detected in each group; morphological changes in ovarian tissue were observed, and the apoptosis of ovarian tissue cells was analyzed. Apoptosis-associated proteins [B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), Caspase-3] and Hippo-YAP signaling pathway associated proteins [large tumor suppressor kinase 1 (LATS1), phosphorylated LATS1 (p-LATS1) and Yes associated protein (YAP), phosphorylated YAP (p-YAP), transcriptional co-activator with PDZ binding motif (TAZ)] were detected in ovarian tissue. RESULTS Compared with PCOS group, the ovarian polycystic characteristics of the ERI low-dose, medium-dose,and high-dose groups were reduced, the number of atretic follicles was reduced, and the granulosa cell layer was thickened; the body mass, FPG, T, LH, LH/FSH, the number of cystic follicles, cell apoptosis index, protein expressions of Bax, Caspase-3, p-LATS1 and p-YAP were greatly decreased (P<0.05); the number of corpus luteum, protein expressions of E2, Bcl-2, LATS1, YAP and TAZ were greatly increased (P<0.05). Compared with ERI high-dose group, the above indexes in ERI high-dose + vitiporfin group were inhibited (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS ERI can promote the proliferation of ovarian granulosa cells and improve the level of sex hormones in PCOS rats, and its mechanism of action may be related to the inhibition of the Hippo-YAP signaling pathway.
3.Effects of erianin on the apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells in rats with polycystic ovary syndrome and its mechanism
Lina FANG ; Yanyi LI ; Chao DONG ; Lili XU ; Zhaosong SHI ; Yuedong LI ; Bo YANG ; Zaichao XU
China Pharmacy 2024;35(11):1339-1344
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of erianin (ERI) on the apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells in rats with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and its mechanism. METHODS PCOS rat model was constructed by subcutaneous injection of dehydroepiandrosterone, and the successfully constructed rats were randomly divided into PCOS group, ERI low-dose, medium- dose and high-dose groups (10, 20, 40 mg/kg) and ERI high dose + verteporfin group (40 mg/kg ERI + 10 mg/kg verteporfin), with 10 rats in each group. Another 10 normal rats were selected as the normal group. Rats in each administration group were given corresponding dose of ERI and/or intraperitoneal injection of vitiporfin, and rats in the PCOS group and normal group were orally administered an equal volume of 1% dimethyl sulfoxide, once a day, for 6 consecutive weeks. After administration, the body weight, fasting blood glucose (FPG), serum levels of estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were detected in each group; morphological changes in ovarian tissue were observed, and the apoptosis of ovarian tissue cells was analyzed. Apoptosis-associated proteins [B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), Caspase-3] and Hippo-YAP signaling pathway associated proteins [large tumor suppressor kinase 1 (LATS1), phosphorylated LATS1 (p-LATS1) and Yes associated protein (YAP), phosphorylated YAP (p-YAP), transcriptional co-activator with PDZ binding motif (TAZ)] were detected in ovarian tissue. RESULTS Compared with PCOS group, the ovarian polycystic characteristics of the ERI low-dose, medium-dose,and high-dose groups were reduced, the number of atretic follicles was reduced, and the granulosa cell layer was thickened; the body mass, FPG, T, LH, LH/FSH, the number of cystic follicles, cell apoptosis index, protein expressions of Bax, Caspase-3, p-LATS1 and p-YAP were greatly decreased (P<0.05); the number of corpus luteum, protein expressions of E2, Bcl-2, LATS1, YAP and TAZ were greatly increased (P<0.05). Compared with ERI high-dose group, the above indexes in ERI high-dose + vitiporfin group were inhibited (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS ERI can promote the proliferation of ovarian granulosa cells and improve the level of sex hormones in PCOS rats, and its mechanism of action may be related to the inhibition of the Hippo-YAP signaling pathway.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail