Background: s/Aims: Non-invasive models stratifying clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) are limited. Herein, we developed a new non-invasive model for predicting CSPH in patients with compensated cirrhosis and investigated whether carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified using the new model. Methods: Non-invasive risk factors of CSPH were identified via systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). A new non-invasive model was validated for various performance aspects in three cohorts, i.e., a multicenter HVPG cohort, a follow-up cohort, and a carvediloltreating cohort. Results: In the meta-analysis with six studies (n=819), liver stiffness measurement and platelet count were identified as independent risk factors for CSPH and were used to develop the new “CSPH risk” model. In the HVPG cohort (n=151), the new model accurately predicted CSPH with cutoff values of 0 and –0.68 for ruling in and out CSPH, respectively. In the follow-up cohort (n=1,102), the cumulative incidences of decompensation events significantly differed using the cutoff values of <–0.68 (low-risk), –0.68 to 0 (medium-risk), and >0 (high-risk). In the carvediloltreated cohort, patients with high-risk CSPH treated with carvedilol (n=81) had lower rates of decompensation events than non-selective beta-blockers untreated patients with high-risk CSPH (n=613 before propensity score matching [PSM], n=162 after PSM). Conclusions Treatment with carvedilol significantly reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified by the new model.

Background: s/Aims: Non-invasive models stratifying clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) are limited. Herein, we developed a new non-invasive model for predicting CSPH in patients with compensated cirrhosis and investigated whether carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified using the new model. Methods: Non-invasive risk factors of CSPH were identified via systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). A new non-invasive model was validated for various performance aspects in three cohorts, i.e., a multicenter HVPG cohort, a follow-up cohort, and a carvediloltreating cohort. Results: In the meta-analysis with six studies (n=819), liver stiffness measurement and platelet count were identified as independent risk factors for CSPH and were used to develop the new “CSPH risk” model. In the HVPG cohort (n=151), the new model accurately predicted CSPH with cutoff values of 0 and –0.68 for ruling in and out CSPH, respectively. In the follow-up cohort (n=1,102), the cumulative incidences of decompensation events significantly differed using the cutoff values of <–0.68 (low-risk), –0.68 to 0 (medium-risk), and >0 (high-risk). In the carvediloltreated cohort, patients with high-risk CSPH treated with carvedilol (n=81) had lower rates of decompensation events than non-selective beta-blockers untreated patients with high-risk CSPH (n=613 before propensity score matching [PSM], n=162 after PSM). Conclusions Treatment with carvedilol significantly reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified by the new model.

Background: s/Aims: Non-invasive models stratifying clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) are limited. Herein, we developed a new non-invasive model for predicting CSPH in patients with compensated cirrhosis and investigated whether carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified using the new model. Methods: Non-invasive risk factors of CSPH were identified via systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). A new non-invasive model was validated for various performance aspects in three cohorts, i.e., a multicenter HVPG cohort, a follow-up cohort, and a carvediloltreating cohort. Results: In the meta-analysis with six studies (n=819), liver stiffness measurement and platelet count were identified as independent risk factors for CSPH and were used to develop the new “CSPH risk” model. In the HVPG cohort (n=151), the new model accurately predicted CSPH with cutoff values of 0 and –0.68 for ruling in and out CSPH, respectively. In the follow-up cohort (n=1,102), the cumulative incidences of decompensation events significantly differed using the cutoff values of <–0.68 (low-risk), –0.68 to 0 (medium-risk), and >0 (high-risk). In the carvediloltreated cohort, patients with high-risk CSPH treated with carvedilol (n=81) had lower rates of decompensation events than non-selective beta-blockers untreated patients with high-risk CSPH (n=613 before propensity score matching [PSM], n=162 after PSM). Conclusions Treatment with carvedilol significantly reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified by the new model.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of liver injury in the Lieber-DeCarli alcoholic liver disease(ALD)mouse model and to analyze its transcriptomic profile.Methods Eighteen male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into an alcohol-fed group(n = 10)and a control group(n = 8).The alcohol-fed group received a Lieber-DeCarli ethanol diet,starting with an adaptive one-week phase using incremental concentrations of ethanol(10～57.3 mL/L),followed by 2 weeks of a 57.3 mL/L concentration of 95％ethanol,for a total of 3 weeks.The control group was provided with an isocaloric control diet for 3 weeks.At the end of the study,mice were sacrificed,and serum and liver tissue samples were collected.Serum liver function markers(ALT,AST),hepatic lipids(TC,TG),reduced glutathione(GSH),total superoxide dismutase(T-SOD),and malondialdehyde(MDA)were measured using biochemical assays.The levels of inflammatory cytokines(IL-6,IL-10,TNF-α,TGF-β1)in liver tissue were assessed by ELISA.Histopathological changes in liver tissue were examined using hematoxylin-eosin(HE)and Oil Red O staining.Immunohistochemical staining using the F4/80 antibody was employed to assess changes in macrophage expression.RNA-seq analysis was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes between the two groups of liver tissues,followed by GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis.qRT-PCR was used to validate the expression of these differentially expressed genes.Results Compared with the control group,the alcohol-fed mice exhibited a significant decrease in body weight(P<0.01).Serum ALT and AST levels were significantly elevated(P<0.01),while liver tissue levels of TC,TG,and MDA were significantly increased(P<0.05).Conversely,GSH and T-SOD levels were significantly reduced(P<0.05).The levels of inflammatory factors IL-6,TNF-α,and TGF-β1 were increased,which was consistent with the qRT-PCR validation results(P<0.05).Histological examination revealed disrupted hepatic lobular structure,with macrovesicular steatosis,microvesicular steatosis,and ballooning degeneration.Additionally,fat droplets in liver tissue were significantly increased,and macrophage expression was upregulated.Differential gene expression analysis,using a threshold of|log2 FC|>1 and q<0.05,identified 2063 differentially expressed genes,of which 1236 were upregulated and 827 downregulated.Enriched pathways included xenobiotic metabolism via cytochrome P450,cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction,chemokine signaling,steroid hormone biosynthesis,glutathione metabolism,and retinol metabolism.(P<0.05).qRT-PCR validation confirmed the significant upregulation(e.g.,Mmp12,Gstm3,Cyp2a22)and downregulation(e.g.,Serpina1e,Acmsd,Mup3d)of 10 genes from each category,consistent with the transcriptome sequencing results.Conclusions The primary pathological mechanisms underlying alcoholic liver injury involve pathways related to xenobiotic metabolism and act via cytochrome P450,cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction,chemokine signaling,glutathione metabolism,and retinol metabolism.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of macrophage depletion by clodronate liposomes(CL)in a carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis mouse model,and to analyze the transcriptomic features.Methods Thirty-two C57BL/6 mice were divided randomly into plain control liposomes for clophosome(PL)and clodronate liposome(CL)groups(n=16 mice per group),and administered intraperitoneal injections of PL and CL,respectively.On day 5,each group was further divided into normal(N)and model(M)subgroups(n=8 mice per subgroup).Mice in group M received 10％CCl4 intraperitoneally to induce liver fibrosis,while mice in group N received an equal volume of olive oil.After 4 weeks,serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)levels were measured,and hepatic inflammation and collagen deposition were evaluated by hematoxylin/eosin and Sirius red staining,respectively.Total RNA was extracted from liver tissues for transcriptomic sequencing and subsequent differential gene expression analysis.Results Serum ALT and AST levels were significantly elevated in the PL-M group(P＜0.01),with fibrosis staging primarily at S3,compared with S1 in the CL-M group.Totals of 1462 and 2119 differentially expressed genes(|log fold change|＞2 and P＜0.05)were identified in the PL and CL groups,respectively.Gene Ontology analysis revealed enrichment in multiple biological processes,cellular components,and molecular functions in both models,and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis identified 29 significantly enriched pathways(P＜0.05).The upregulation of genes including Lgals7 and Timp1 and the downregulation of Mup-ps16 and Mup15 were validated by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction,consistent with transcriptomic trends(P＜0.05).Conclusions This study highlights the characteristics and transcriptomic features of macrophage depletion in the CCl4-induced liver fibrosis model,providing a theoretical reference for research on the immune mechanisms of liver fibrosis.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of liver injury in the Lieber-DeCarli alcoholic liver disease(ALD)mouse model and to analyze its transcriptomic profile.Methods Eighteen male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into an alcohol-fed group(n = 10)and a control group(n = 8).The alcohol-fed group received a Lieber-DeCarli ethanol diet,starting with an adaptive one-week phase using incremental concentrations of ethanol(10～57.3 mL/L),followed by 2 weeks of a 57.3 mL/L concentration of 95％ethanol,for a total of 3 weeks.The control group was provided with an isocaloric control diet for 3 weeks.At the end of the study,mice were sacrificed,and serum and liver tissue samples were collected.Serum liver function markers(ALT,AST),hepatic lipids(TC,TG),reduced glutathione(GSH),total superoxide dismutase(T-SOD),and malondialdehyde(MDA)were measured using biochemical assays.The levels of inflammatory cytokines(IL-6,IL-10,TNF-α,TGF-β1)in liver tissue were assessed by ELISA.Histopathological changes in liver tissue were examined using hematoxylin-eosin(HE)and Oil Red O staining.Immunohistochemical staining using the F4/80 antibody was employed to assess changes in macrophage expression.RNA-seq analysis was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes between the two groups of liver tissues,followed by GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis.qRT-PCR was used to validate the expression of these differentially expressed genes.Results Compared with the control group,the alcohol-fed mice exhibited a significant decrease in body weight(P<0.01).Serum ALT and AST levels were significantly elevated(P<0.01),while liver tissue levels of TC,TG,and MDA were significantly increased(P<0.05).Conversely,GSH and T-SOD levels were significantly reduced(P<0.05).The levels of inflammatory factors IL-6,TNF-α,and TGF-β1 were increased,which was consistent with the qRT-PCR validation results(P<0.05).Histological examination revealed disrupted hepatic lobular structure,with macrovesicular steatosis,microvesicular steatosis,and ballooning degeneration.Additionally,fat droplets in liver tissue were significantly increased,and macrophage expression was upregulated.Differential gene expression analysis,using a threshold of|log2 FC|>1 and q<0.05,identified 2063 differentially expressed genes,of which 1236 were upregulated and 827 downregulated.Enriched pathways included xenobiotic metabolism via cytochrome P450,cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction,chemokine signaling,steroid hormone biosynthesis,glutathione metabolism,and retinol metabolism.(P<0.05).qRT-PCR validation confirmed the significant upregulation(e.g.,Mmp12,Gstm3,Cyp2a22)and downregulation(e.g.,Serpina1e,Acmsd,Mup3d)of 10 genes from each category,consistent with the transcriptome sequencing results.Conclusions The primary pathological mechanisms underlying alcoholic liver injury involve pathways related to xenobiotic metabolism and act via cytochrome P450,cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction,chemokine signaling,glutathione metabolism,and retinol metabolism.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of macrophage depletion by clodronate liposomes(CL)in a carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis mouse model,and to analyze the transcriptomic features.Methods Thirty-two C57BL/6 mice were divided randomly into plain control liposomes for clophosome(PL)and clodronate liposome(CL)groups(n=16 mice per group),and administered intraperitoneal injections of PL and CL,respectively.On day 5,each group was further divided into normal(N)and model(M)subgroups(n=8 mice per subgroup).Mice in group M received 10％CCl4 intraperitoneally to induce liver fibrosis,while mice in group N received an equal volume of olive oil.After 4 weeks,serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)levels were measured,and hepatic inflammation and collagen deposition were evaluated by hematoxylin/eosin and Sirius red staining,respectively.Total RNA was extracted from liver tissues for transcriptomic sequencing and subsequent differential gene expression analysis.Results Serum ALT and AST levels were significantly elevated in the PL-M group(P＜0.01),with fibrosis staging primarily at S3,compared with S1 in the CL-M group.Totals of 1462 and 2119 differentially expressed genes(|log fold change|＞2 and P＜0.05)were identified in the PL and CL groups,respectively.Gene Ontology analysis revealed enrichment in multiple biological processes,cellular components,and molecular functions in both models,and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis identified 29 significantly enriched pathways(P＜0.05).The upregulation of genes including Lgals7 and Timp1 and the downregulation of Mup-ps16 and Mup15 were validated by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction,consistent with transcriptomic trends(P＜0.05).Conclusions This study highlights the characteristics and transcriptomic features of macrophage depletion in the CCl4-induced liver fibrosis model,providing a theoretical reference for research on the immune mechanisms of liver fibrosis.

Objective To investigate the expression and clinical pathological significance of PIWI-interacting RNA-47851 (piR-47851) in gastric adenocarcinoma and its influence on proliferation. Methods The expression of piR-47851 was detected in 79 gastric adenocarcinoma tissues by real time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and the correlation of piR-47851 expression level and clinical features with survival and prognosis were analyzed. The effect of piR-47851 on proliferation activity of gastric cancer cells was observed by cell proliferation experiments. Informatics websites were used to predict the downstream target genes of piR-47851. The wild-type and mutant plasmids for the 3'untranslated region (UTR) of MAPK1 gene were established, and a dual luciferase reporting system was used to verify that piR-47851 binded to the 3'UTR of MAPK1 gene, thereby inhibiting MAPK1 protein synthesis. The effect of overexpression/silencing of piR-47851 on MAPK1 expression level was examined through qRT-PCR experiment. Rescue experiment was used to confirm the direct regulatory effect of piR-47851 on MAPK1 and explore the effect of piR-47851/MAPK1 on the proliferation of gastric cancer cells. The effect of reduced piR-47851 expression on the volume and weight of transplanted tumors was observed in nude mice by xenograft tumor experiments; the effect of reduced piR-47851 expression on the cell proliferation activity of xenograft tumors was observed by Ki-67 staining. Results The qRT-PCR experiment result showed that the expression level of piR-47851 in 79 gastric adenocarcinoma tissues was significantly higher than that in normal gastric tissues adjacent to the cancer (P < 0.05). The expression level of piR-47851 was significantly correlated with tumor size, degree of differentiation, and survival prognosis (P < 0.05). Bioinformatics suggested that there was a complementary binding site between piR-47851 and MAPK1 gene 3'UTR. The dual luciferase reporter gene experiment showed that piR-47851 was able to significantly inhibit fluorescence enzyme activity in the MAPK1 wild-type transfection group, while this inhibitory effect was not observed in the MAPK1 mutant group. The CCK-8 proliferation activity experiment showed that overexpression of piR-47851 was able to significantly increase the proliferation activity of gastric cancer cells; after reducing piR-47851, the proliferation activity of cells decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Rescue experiment indicated that after changing the expression of piR-47851 and (or) MAPK1 and then detecting the expression level of MAPK1 by qRT-PCR, the MAPK1 could be regulated by piR-47851. Overexpression of MAPK1 could functionally reduce the proliferation promoting effect of piR-47851 on gastric cancer cells, while reducing MAPK1 expression could further enhance the proliferation activity of gastric cancer cells. In xenograft tumor experiments, reducing the expression of piR-47851 significantly resulted in smaller tumor growth volume and weight (P < 0.05). The proliferation index Ki-67 staining showed that the number of proliferative active cells in the reduced piR-47851 expression group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05), which further validated the promotional effect of piR-47851 on cell proliferation. Conclusion The expression level of piR-47851 is increased in gastric adenocarcinoma tissues, which is closely related with tumor size and survival prognosis. The piR-47851 downregulates MAPK1 protein expression by binding to the 3'UTR of MAPK1, thereby promoting the proliferation of gastric cancer cells.

Objective To investigate the role of hsa_circ_0013058 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and the mechanism in promoting the invasion and migration of ESCC cells. Methods ESCC tissues and adjacent normal tissues of 75 patients were collected. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and RNA in situ hybridization (RISH) were used to detect the expression of hsa_circ_0013058, and the relationship between hsa_circ_0013058 and clinicopathological data of ESCC patients was analyzed. The invasion and migration ability of ESCC cells were detected by scratch test and Transwell test. The target gene of hsa_circ_0013058 was predicted by bioinformatics. The regulation of hsa_circ_0013058 on downstream genes and its effect on invasion and migration of ESCC cells were detected by Rescue experiment. Results The results of qRT-PCR showed that the expression level of hsa_circ_0013058 in the ESCC tissues was significantly higher than that in the adjacent normal tissues (t=5.078, P < 0.05). The expression level of hsa_circ_0013058 in KYSE70 was significantly higher than that in human normal esophageal epithelial cells HTT-1A (P < 0.05). At the RNA level, hsa_circ_0013058 was negatively correlated with miR-548p (r=-0.254 2, P < 0.05). The positive expression rate of hsa_circ_0013058 RNA in the ESCC tissues was 72.00%, which was significantly higher than 17.33% in the adjacent normal tissues (χ²=6.862, P < 0.05). The positive expression of hsa_circ_0013058 was closely related to the depth of tumor invasion, differentiation degree and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). Scratch test results showed that overexpression of hsa_circ_0013058 enhanced the migration ability of KYSE70 cells (P < 0.05); knockdown of hsa_circ_0013058 expression decreased the migration ability of KYSE70 cells (P < 0.05). After overexpression of hsa_circ_0013058, the number of invasion and migration cells of ESCC increased, and after knockdown of hsa_circ_0013058 expression, the number of invasion and migration cells decreased (P < 0.05). The qRT-PCR confirmed that hsa_circ_0013058 could regulate the expression of microRNA-548p (miR-548p). Dual luciferase reporter gene assay showed that miR-548p was specifically bound to LPAR3, which was the direct target gene of miR-548p. Rescue experiment results indicated that hsa_circ_0013058 regulated the invasion and migration of ESCC cells through the miR-548p/LPAR3 signaling axis. Conclusion In ESCC, hsa_circ_0013058 inhibits the expression of miR-548p, thereby activating the LPAR3 signaling pathway and promoting the invasion and migration of ESCC cells.

Objective To investigate the expression level of piR-35296 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and its pathological significance, as well as its effect on ccRCC cell proliferation. Methods Surgical resection specimens and clinicopathological data from 67 ccRCC patients were collected. Differential expression profiles of piRNAs in ccRCC were detected using piRNA microarray analysis, and validated by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The effect of piR-35296 on the proliferative activity of ccRCC cells was examined by CCK-8 assay. Bioinformatic analysis predicted TAB2 as a potential downstream target gene of piR-35296; qRT-PCR was performed to detect theinfluence of piR-35296 overexpression or knockdown on TAB2 expression levels. Rescue experiments were conducted to verify the regulation of TAB2 by piR-35296 and its impact on ccRCC cell proliferation. The effect of piR-35296 knockdown on the growth of subcutaneous tumors in experimental nude mice was analyzed, and Ki-67 immunohistochemical staining was used to validate the influence of piR-35296 on ccRCC cell proliferation. Results Both piRNA expression profiling and qRT-PCR revealed an elevated expression level of piR-35296 in ccRCC (P < 0.05). The expression of piR-35296 was closely associated with tumor size and differentiation degree in ccRCC patients (χ²=3.984, 3.974, P < 0.05). CCK-8 proliferation assays demonstrated that piR-35296 overexpression enhanced the proliferative activity of ccRCC cells, whereas its downregulation inhibited cell proliferation (P < 0.05). qRT-PCR experiments showed that TAB2 expression was upregulated after piR-35296 overexpression and downregulated upon piR-35296 knockdown (P < 0.05). Rescue experiments indicated that piR-35296 promoted TAB2 mRNA and its protein expression in ccRCC cells, thereby stimulating cell proliferation; TAB2 downregulation inhibited ccRCC cell proliferation. In experimental nude mice, piR-35296 knockdown reduced the mass andvolume of subcutaneous tumors (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical staining for Ki-67 revealed a decreased percentage of Ki-67-positive cells after piR-35296 downregulation, suggesting reduced cell proliferation capacity (P < 0.05). Conclusion The piR-35296 serves as a novel oncogenic growth promoter in ccRCC. By elevating TAB2 expression, piR-35296 promotes the proliferative growth of ccRCC cells.