Hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） is a common malignant tumor with a high mortality rate， an insidious onset， and complex pathological mechanisms. In the tumor microenvironment， tumor-promoting immune cells protect tumor cells from immune attacks， while dysfunction of anti-tumor immune cells causes the inhibition of immune response， thereby leading to the continuous deterioration of cancer. In recent years， traditional Chinese medicine has shown good efficacy in the treatment of HCC， and it can inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells by regulating immune cells. By analyzing related articles in China and globally， this article summarizes how immune cells affect the progression of HCC through the immunosuppressive pathway and how traditional Chinese medicine exerts an anti-HCC effect by regulating immune cells， in order to provide theoretical basis and reference for optimizing the treatment of HCC.

ObjectiveTo investigate whether cytotoxic T lymphocyte （CTL）－derived exosomes can downregulate HBx expression and inhibit hepatic stellate cell （HSC） activation. MethodsThe supernatants of HepG2， HepGA14， and CTL cells were collected to extract exosomes， which were referred to as NC－exo， HBV－exo， and CTL－exo， respectively）. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe their morphology， and Western Blot was used to measure the expression of the markers of exosomes CD63 and TSG101. NC－exo， HBV－exo， and CTL－exo labeled by BODIPY dye were mixed with HBV－exo at different ratios and were then co－cultured with HSC LX－2 （HSC－LX2）. A fluorescence microscope was used to observe whether exosomes could enter LX－2 cells， and an fluorescence microscope was used to observe cell morphological changes； quantitative real－time PCR （qPCR） was used to measure the expression of the activated biomarkers such as transforming growth factor－β1 （TGF－β1）， ɑ－smooth muscle actin （ɑ－SMA）， and collagen type I （Collagen I） in LX－2 cells. CTL－exo was added to the HepGA14 culture system； then qPCR was used to measure the mRNA expression level of HBV DNA， cccDNA， and HBx in exosomes in HepGA14 cells， and Western Blot was used to measure the protein expression level of HBx in exosomes. The t-test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups； a one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison between multiple groups， and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsThe exosomes were all microcysts with a double－layer membrane structure and were circular or elliptical in shape， with the expression of the signature proteins CD63 and TSG101， and the vesicles had a diameter of 50－100 nm. The fluorescence microscope showed that exosomes could enter LX－2 cells， and HSC were enlarged with extended cell processes. The results of qPCR showed that there were significant differences in the expression levels of TGF－β1， ɑ－SMA， and Collagen I genes between the NC－exo， HBV－exo， NC－exo+HBV－exo， and Con groups （F=444.678， 417.144， and 571.508， all P<0.05）. After the intervention of HepGA14 cells with CTL－exo， qPCR results showed that compared with the control group， there were significant reductions in the expression levels of HBV DNA and cccDNA in HepGA14 cells （all P<0.05）， the relative mRNA expression level of HBx in exosomes （P<0.05）， and the protein expression level of HBx （P<0.05）. CTL－exo and HBV－exo were mixed at different ratios （2∶1， 5∶1， 10∶1） and were then used for the intervention of LX－2 cells， and qPCR results showed that the expression levels of TGF－β1， ɑ－SMA， and Collagen I genes in LX－2 cells gradually decreased with the increase in the ratio of CTL－exo between groups （P<0.05）. ConclusionCTL－exo can downregulate the protein expression of HBx in HBV－exo to inhibit HSC activation， suggesting that CTL－exo has an anti－hepatitis B liver fibrosis effect.

BACKGROUND:Transgenosis of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) gene has been successfully performed into the muscle satellite cells of rat extraocular muscles in the previous study of the research group, proving that bFGF could express in the myoblasts of extraocular muscles, also promote cell proliferation and differentiation.OBJECTIVE: To further investigate the methods for regulating the expression of the bFGF in myoblasts following transfection. METHODS: Target gene bFGF was connected with inducing expression vector pcDNA4/T0/myc-His?A, followed by masculine clone sequencing identified by colony PCR and enzyme digestion, EcoR I and Hind III restriction enzyme digestion, as well as Xho I single enzyme verification. C2C12 myoblasts antibiotics sensitivity was screened and finally defined. By use of lipofection transfection technology, cell lines where C2C12 stably expressed pcDNA6/TR were estabolishd and then identified by Western blot. The pcDNA4/TO/myc-His?A-bFGF was transfected into pcDNA6/TR- C2C12 cells. The bFGF expression and secretion in C2C12 cells following tetracycline-induced pcDNA4/TO/myc-His?A-bFGF transfection were determined by immunofluorescence and Western blot, the controls were established.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: ① The conjunction between the bFGF and inducing expression vector pcDNA4/TO/myc-His?A was proved successfully by sequencing comparison, double digestion and single digestion. ②The minimal lethal concentration of blasticidin to C2C12 cells was 10 mg/L, while that of zeocin was 750 mg/L. ③ The pcDNA6/TR-C2C12 cell lines were established correctly. ④ The myoblasts treated by tetracycline and transfected with pcDNA4/TO/myc-His?A-bFGF were positive for gene expression, those untreated exhibited a negativity; bFGF protein could be produced in myoblasts treated by tetracycline and transfected with pcDNA4/TO/myc-His?A-bFGF, the production reached a peak at 24 hours, while those untreated can not produce bFGF protein. Results suggest that the bFGF expression in the myoblasts can be controlled by tetracycline inhibition and regulatory systems.