Objective To investigate the inhibitive effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on the immunological rejection in rats after liver transplantation. Methods The recipients and donors were female SD rats and Wistar rats. All rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (28 rats in each group). Rats in group A were infused with normal saline; rats in group B received FK506 (0.25 mg/kg) every 2 days for 2 weeks after liver transplantation; rats in group C were injected with MSCs from male Wistar rats during liver transplantation. The pathological changes, expression of TGF-β1 and IL-10, Y chromosome location, changes of liver function and the survival of the recipients were detected on postoperative day 10. The levels of ALT and AST were analyzed by com-pletely randomised design analysis of variance, and the difference among the 3 groups were analyzed by LSD. Ridit was used to analyze the pathological grading. The survival was analyzed by Log-rank test after the Kaplan-Meier survival curve was drawn. Results The values of ALT and AST were (756±104)U/L and (635±134)U/L in group A, (197±49)U/L and (331±78) U/L in group B, (103±31)U/L and (150±38) U/L in group C, respectively. The difference in the level of ALT and AST among the 3 groups had statistical significance (F = 158, 265, P < 0.05). The liver function of rats in group B and C was better than those in group A (P < 0.01), and the liver function of rats in group C was better than those in group B. The mean values of ridit in group A, B and C were 0.8333, 0.4583 and 0.2083, respectively. The expression rates of TCG-β1 in group A, B and C were 18%±5% , 69%±20% and 85%±24% , with statistical difference among the 3 groups (F=191, P <0.01). There was a significant difference in IL-10 expression among group A (21%±5%), group B (75%±14%) and group C (91%±21%) (F=672, P<0.01). The TCG-β1 and IL-10 had strong positive expression in group B and C, and the expression of TCG-β1 and IL-10 was much stronger in group C than in group B; while the expres-sion of TCG-β1 and IL-10 was weak positive in group A. MSCs cells with Y chromosome were positively stained and were concentrated at the portal area in group C. The 50-day survival rate of rats in group A, B and C were 0, 10% and 90% , respectviely, with significant difference (χ~2=36, P < 0.01). The median survival time of rats in group C was 63 days, which was longer than that in group A and B. Conclusion Simultaneous injection of MSCs from donors during liver transplantation can inhibite the immunological rejection of recipients to the liver graft.

Sect. Aptera (Gentiana L.) is the plant origin of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) "Qinjiao", which is used to treat rheumatism and pains with a long history. The plants of Sect. Aptera mainly contain iridoids, triterpenes and steroids, and possess anti-inflammatory, analgesia, stomach invigorate and bacteria inhibitory effects, etc. Herein, we reviewed the advances of chemical and pharmacological investigations of Sect. Aptera for further research.
Animals ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Gentiana ; chemistry ; Humans ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of biodegradable flow-diverting stent for treatment of intracranial wide-neck aneurysm.Methods Twenty adult New Zealand rabbits were used to induce wide-neck aneurysm models by elastase,and then,these models were divided into 3 groups:in group one (n=7),biodegradable polyglycolic acid flow-diverting stents (PGA-FDs) were implanted into parent arteries and covered the necks of aneurysms;in group 2 (n=7),the bare metal FDs replaced PGA-FDs;the observation period of animals in group one and group 2 was 3 months;in group 3 (n=6),the PGA-FDs were implanted into parent arteries with 6 weeks of observation period.The status of aneurysm occlusion and patency of side branches covered by the stent were assessed,and all animals were sacrificed:HE staining was used to observe the thrombosis in the aneurysms,Elastic fiber staining was used to observe the neointimal thickness of parent arteries,and immuohistochemical staining was employed to detect the expressions of CD34,CD68 and alpha-actin (αSMA) in the parent arteries.Results Complete aneurysm occlusion rate in groups one,2 and 3 was 83.3％ (5/6),0％ (0/6) and 66.7％ (4/6),respectively.The neointimal thickness in parent artery of groups one,2 and 3 was (111±69) μm,(70±48) μm and (190±52) μm,respectively;that in group 3 was significantly higher than that in group one and 2 (P＜0.05).The neointima comprised predominantly smooth muscle cells and collagen fibers.Some CD34 positive vascular endothelial cells could be seen in the neointima of parent arteries of groups one and 2.Conclusion The PGA-FD is an effective device to occlude aneurysms without inducing obvious neointimal thickness and side branch stenosis in the 3-month follow-up.