肝泰对肝纤维化大鼠肝组织中神经递质受体作用的研究

目的研究肝泰对CCl4诱导的肝纤维化大鼠肝组织中神经递质受体的作用,探讨其抗肝纤维化的作用机制。方法将40只Wistar大鼠分为4组：正常对照组（N）10只、肝复乐胶囊对照组（G）10只、肝泰组（Z）10只及模型组（M）10只。采用光镜及电镜观察肝组织病理学改变;应用免疫组织化学法、逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）和West-ern-blot方法检测各组肝组织α1肾上腺素能受体（α1A-AR）、β2肾上腺素能受体（β2-AR）的表达。结果肝泰组、肝复乐胶囊对照组病理改变较模型组明显改善;免疫组织化学、RT-PCR、Western blot三种不同层次水平的研究结果均表明：肝泰组和肝复乐胶囊对照组α1A-AR及β2-AR的表达较模型组显著降低（P〈0.05）。结论肝泰能通过抑制肝组织中α1A-AR及β2-AR的表达,从而调节神经递质在肝纤维化中的作用。     

肝纤维化肝组织中肾上腺素能受体的表达研究

目的探讨肝纤维化大鼠肝脏组织中交感神经递质受体表达的变化情况。方法应用四氯化碳(CCl4)诱导大鼠慢性肝纤维化模型。23只Wistar大鼠随机分为正常对照组(N组)和肝纤维化模型组(M组)。应用逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)和Westernblot方法检测肝脏组织中肾上腺素能受体mRNA及蛋白质的表达情况。结果肝纤维化大鼠肝脏组织中肾上腺素能受体mRNA和蛋白质表达均比正常组明显增加(P<0·01)。结论肝纤维化时,大鼠肝脏组织中肾上腺素能受体α1-AR和β2-AR表达增加,这可能是肝纤维化时交感神经促进肝纤维化发展的作用机制之一。     

核酸对肝纤维化大鼠肝组织中M1型胆碱能受体表达的影响

目的探讨核酸在CCl4诱导的肝纤维化模型中对肝脏中M1型乙酰胆碱受体的影响及其抗肝纤维化的可能机制。方法应用四氯化碳（CCl4）诱导大鼠慢性肝纤维化模型。将55只Wistar大鼠分为4组：正常对照（N）组10只、肝复乐胶囊对照（G）组15只、核酸（Z）组15只及模型（M）组15只。采用光镜观察肝组织病理学改变;运用免疫组织SP法、逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）和Western-blot方法检测各组肝组织M1型胆碱能受体（M1-AChR）不同水平的表达情况。结果核酸组、肝复乐胶囊对照组病理改变较模型组明显改善;免疫组织化学、RT-PCR、Western-blot三种不同层次水平的表达结果均表明核酸组和肝复乐胶囊对照组M1-AChR的表达较模型组显著降低（P〈0．05）。结论核酸可降低肝纤维化肝组织中M1型乙酰胆碱受体的含量,可能主要通过调节肝纤维化大鼠肝脏中的M1型乙酰胆碱受体的含量而达到抗肝纤维化的作用。     

和络舒肝胶囊对肝纤维化肝组织中乙酰胆碱受体的影响

目的 探讨和络舒肝胶囊对CCl4诱导的肝纤维化模型的肝脏中乙酰胆碱受体的影响及其抗肝纤维化的可能机制。方法 应用四氯化碳（CCl4）诱导大鼠慢性肝纤维化模型。38只Wistar大鼠随机分为正常对照组（N组）,肝纤维化模型组（M组）和和络舒肝组（H组）。应用逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）和免疫印迹（Western Blot）方法检测肝脏组织中乙酰胆碱受体在mRNA及蛋白质水平的表达情况。结果 正常组肝组织内乙酰胆碱受体含量明显低于模型组（P〈0.01）,且和络舒肝组乙酰胆碱受体含量低于模型组（P〈0.05）。结论 和络舒肝胶囊的作用可能与降低肝纤维化肝组织中乙酰胆碱受体的含量有关。     

日本血吸虫性病兔肝纤维化的酶组织化学研究

目的观察日本血吸虫感染家兔导致肝脏发生纤维化后的肝组织酶学改变.方法将23只成年健康大耳白兔分为正常对照组(N)8只,模型组(M)15只,M组采用腹贴法(日本血吸虫尾蚴180条/只,持续15min)感染血吸虫,六周后服用吡喹酮行杀虫治疗.于实验的第13周将全部动物麻醉后剖腹取肝组织.肝组织行HE染色和电镜观察;酶组织化学方法检测单胺氧化酶(MAO)、一氧化氮合酶(NOS)、琥珀酰脱氢酶(SDH)、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)在器官的表达活性.结果在血吸虫感染家兔的第13周可观察到肝组织明显纤维化;模型组中MAO、NOS、LDH活性明显高于正常对照组,而SDH活性则明显降低.结论慢性血吸虫感染引起的肝纤维化导致肝细胞缺血缺氧,影响NOS、SDH、LDH活性,加重肝细胞损伤.     

扶正化瘀胶囊对鼠血吸虫肝纤维化的作用及机制探讨

目的:研究扶正化瘀胶囊对实验性血吸虫病肝纤维化的影响,探讨其相关作用机制。方法:70只昆明小鼠分为正常对照组(A)、模型组(B)、吡喹酮组(C)、INF-γ组(D)、扶正化瘀胶囊低剂量组(E)、中剂量组(F)、高剂量组(G),采用日本血吸虫尾蚴30条/只攻击感染小鼠建立血吸虫性肝纤维化模型。第6周用吡喹酮驱虫治疗后予扶正化瘀胶囊干预,第14周末观察血清透明质酸、层粘连蛋白、III型前胶原、IV型胶原水平,HE染色观察肝脏病理改变及虫卵结节变化,免疫组化检测PDGF-BB和I、III型胶原的表达。结果:扶正化瘀胶囊各剂量组肝脏病理损伤减轻,虫卵肉芽肿面积和数量明显减小;血清HA、LN、PC-III、C-IV水平显著下降(P<0.05);肝组织I、III型胶原和PDGF-BB表达明显低于模型组(P<0.05)。结论:扶正化瘀胶囊具有抗血吸虫性肝纤维化作用,降低肝组织PDGF-BB的表达可能是其抗纤维化作用机制之一。     

肝纤维化过程中Toll样受体4在肝脏的表达分布及意义

目的动态观察大鼠肝纤维化过程中Toll样受体4（Toll-like receptor4,TLR4）蛋白在肝脏的表达,探讨TLR4与肝纤维化发生发展的关系。方法以四氯化碳皮下注射复制大鼠肝纤维化模型,设立正常对照组和模型1周组、2周组、4周组、6周组。常规HE染色和天狼猩红胶原染色观察肝脏病变;检测肝组织羟脯氨酸和血浆内毒素含量;免疫组化和Western blot检测TLR4在肝组织中的表达,检测α-SMA观察活化的肝星状细胞（HSCs）。结果与正常对照组比较,CCl4作用2周时,肝组织羟脯氨酸含量开始明显增多（P〈0.01）;模型组各组血浆内毒素含量呈梯度上升（P〈0.01）,且与肝组织羟脯氨酸含量呈显著正相关关系（P〈0.01）;CCl4作用1周后肝组织TLR4的表达即明显增强（P〈0.01）,4周时和6周时有所下降（与2周组相比,P〈0.05）,但仍高于正常对照组（P〈0.01）。TLR4阳性细胞包括枯否细胞、活化的HSCs及少量的肝细胞和内皮细胞。结论内毒素及其受体TLR4的改变可能在肝纤维化中起重要作用。     

α1-烟碱样乙酰胆碱受体在门脉高压症发病机制中的作用分析

目的:探讨肝组织中的α1-烟碱样乙酰胆碱受体在胆汁性肝纤维化引起的门静脉高压症(PHT)发病机制中的作用。方法:取体重240-260g的清洁级雄性SD大鼠30只,根据体重随机分为假手术组、模型组。模型组采用胆总管结扎术(CBDL)对大鼠进行造模,分别于2周、4周测门静脉压力,并用免疫组化和免疫印迹法对α1-烟碱样乙酰胆碱受体(nAchRα1)进行定位及定量的检测。结果:假手术组的门静脉压力是7.97±0.55mmHg,造模后2周和4周门静脉压力升高,分别为14.15±0.92mmHg;17.75±0.86mmHg。免疫组化显示nAchRα1主要表达在肝窦和汇管区。免疫印迹显示模型组nAchRα1的表达较假手术组明显增多。结论:nAchRα1可能通过活化肝星状细胞,进而形成肝窦毛细血管化,来参与门静脉高压症的发病机制。     

四氯化碳诱导的小鼠肝纤维化模型中SDF-1/αCXCR4的表达及其意义

目的检测四氯化碳（CCl4）诱导的肝纤维化小鼠模型肝脏SDF-1/αCXCR4的表达,评价SDF-1/αCXCR4轴与肝纤维化的关系,为研究肝纤维化肝损伤发生及损伤修复机制研究提供基础。方法选用6周龄雌性纯系C57小鼠,采用40%的CCl4/橄榄油溶液腹腔注射,剂量为1 mL/kg,每周2次,共4周,制成肝纤维化模型,取肝纤维化及正常对照组小鼠肝脏标本,采用RT-PCR及免疫组化检测SDF-1α的表达,采用RT-PCR及Western检测CXCR4受体的表达。结果与对照组相比,SDF-1α及CXCR4在肝纤维化模型小鼠肝脏组织中的表达较对照组明显上调,差异具有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论肝纤维小鼠肝组织的SDF-1/αCXCR4受体表达上调,为研究肝纤维化肝损伤机制及干细胞移植治疗提供理论基础。     

壳聚糖介导CrmA基因治疗小鼠肝纤维化的研究

目的:探讨壳聚糖介导的CrmA对小鼠肝纤维化的治疗效果,以期为肝纤维化的基因治疗提供实验基础。方法:清洁级的75只雄性小鼠随机分为正常组、模型组、壳聚糖介导的CrmA组、壳聚糖介导的空载体组、壳聚糖组,每组15只。应用30%四氯化碳橄榄油溶液3 ml/kg腹腔注射制备肝纤维化小鼠模型。治疗8周后,眼眶取血,检测血清的肝功能指标,并取肝组织做HE染色,观察各组小鼠肝脏的病理形态,Real Time PCR检测肝组织IL-1β、α-SMA、TGF-β1、TIMP-1表达量。结果:与模型组小鼠相比,壳聚糖介导的CrmA组小鼠的肝纤维化程度减轻,ALT、AST显著降低(P0.01),肝组织IL-1β、α-SMA、TIMP1、TGF-β1的表达明显减少(P0.05),而模型组、壳聚糖介导的空载体组和壳聚糖组均无显著性差异。结论:壳聚糖介导的CrmA能有效减轻肝纤维化小鼠的肝脏损伤和纤维化程度,为基因治疗肝纤维化提供了一种潜在的新思路和方法。     

Reduced levels of mutagen processing potential in the Schistosoma japonicum-infected mouse liver

Epidemiological studies have shown the presence of a positive correlation between the infection of Schistosoma japonicum and colorectal and/or liver cancers in the humans. To explore the mechanism underlying this correlation, we have investigated the mutagen-activating potentials of the liver homogenate fraction (S9) from Schistosoma japonicum infected mice and those from control mice, by use of the Ames test with 2-acetylaminofluorene, aflatoxin B1 and 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-2) as test mutagens. Liver S9 prepared from the infected group at the 15th week after the infection showed a potential significantly lower than that from the control group. The hepatic cytochrome P-450 concentration in the infected mice was persistently low, about a half of that in the uninfected mice, during the period of 6-18 weeks after the infection. Thus, in mice bearing chronic schistosomiasis, mutagen-processing potentials are decreased.     

Schistosoma mekongi and Schistosoma japonicum: Differences in the distribution of eggs in the viscera of mice

The difference in the distribution of Schistosoma eggs in the viscera has not been clearly elucidated in the two closely related species Schistosoma japonicum and Schistosoma mekongi. In this study, we quantitatively compared the distribution of eggs in mice infected with the two species. In S. mekongi-infected mice, 56.6% to 69.4% of total eggs were found in the distal small intestine 9 to 15 weeks after infection, while in S. japonicum-infected mice, 48.8% to 71.8% of eggs were found in the proximal small intestine during the same period. There were significantly more eggs in the liver in mice infected with S. japonicum than in those infected with S. mekongi. The number of adult worms recovered did not differ between the two species during the study period. The total number of eggs laid in the tissues also did not differ between the two species at 12 to 15 weeks postinfection, but in the earlier period the total number of eggs was significantly fewer in S. mekongi-infected than in S. japonicum-infected mice, suggesting the delayed maturation of the former compared with the latter. These results clearly show that S. japonicum and S. mekongi exhibit different oviposition behavior in their hosts.     

TREM2 expression promotes liver and peritoneal M2 macrophage polarization in mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum

Schistosomiasis is a tropical parasitic disease that damages the liver and poses a serious threat to human health. Macrophages play a key role in the development of liver granulomas and fibrosis by undergoing polarization from M1 to M2 type during schistosomiasis. Therefore, regulating macrophage polarization is important for controlling pathological changes that occur during this disease. Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) expressed on the surface of macrophages, dendritic cells and other immune cells has been shown to play a role in inhibiting inflammatory responses and regulating M2 macrophage polarization, however its role in macrophage polarization in schistosomiasis has not been investigated. In this study, we confirmed that TREM2 expression was upregulated in the livers and peritoneal macrophages of mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum. Moreover, the TREM2 expression trend correlated with the expression of M2 macrophage polarization-related molecules in the liver tissues of S. japonicum-infected mice. Using Trem2^−/− mice, we also showed that Trem2 deletion inhibited Arg1 and Ym1 expression in liver tissues. Trem2 deletion also increased the number of F4/80 + CD86+ cells in peritoneal macrophages of infected mice. In summary, our study suggests that TREM2 may be involved in M2 macrophage polarization during schistosomiasis.     

Schistosoma japonicum infection in pregnant mice.

Ten 1-week and ten 2-weeks pregnant female NMRI mice were experimentally exposed to 70 Schistosoma japonicum cercariae. Ten littermice from each group were examined for worms by perfusion 4, 6 and 8 weeks post infection. Although the mothers (n = 15) were found infected with 15.5 +/- 13.4 worms at perfusion 6 and 7 weeks post infection, no worms were found in any of the examined littermice, as well as no detection of faecal or tissue eggs. Litter sizes did not differ from control groups and all littermice were healthy. The present study therefore suggests that congenital infection with S. japonicum does not occur in percutaneously infected mice and that infection of the mother during pregnancy does not seem to affect the offspring.     

Negative regulation of Schistosoma japonicum egg-induced liver fibrosis by natural killer cells

The role of natural killer (NK) cells in infection-induced liver fibrosis remains obscure. In this study, we elucidated the effect of NK cells on Schistosoma japonicum (S. japonicum) egg-induced liver fibrosis. Liver fibrosis was induced by infecting C57BL/6 mice with 18-20 cercariae of S. japonicum. Anti-ASGM1 antibody was used to deplete NK cells. Toll-like receptor 3 ligand, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) was used to enhance the activation of NK cells. Results showed that NK cells were accumulated and activated after S. japonicum infection, as evidenced by the elevation of CD69 expression and IFN-γ production. Depletion of NK cells markedly enhanced S. japonicum egg-induced liver fibrosis. Administration of poly I:C further activated NK cells to produce IFN-γ and attenuated S. japonicum egg-induced liver fibrosis. The observed protective effect of poly I:C on liver fibrosis was diminished through depletion of NK cells. Disruption of IFN-γ gene enhanced liver fibrosis and partially abolished the suppression of liver fibrosis by poly I:C. Moreover, expression of retinoic acid early inducible 1 (RAE 1), the NKG2D ligand, was detectable at high levels on activated hepatic stellate cells derived from S. japonicum-infected mice, which made them more susceptible to hepatic NK cell killing. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the activated NK cells in the liver after S. japonicum infection negatively regulate egg-induced liver fibrosis via producing IFN-γ, and killing activated stellate cells.     

Recovery from immunesuppression in mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum by treatment of praziquantel

To learn the possible alteration of immune response, hemolytic plaque-forming cells (PFC) produced in the spleen of Schistosoma japonicum infected mice treated with Praziquantel and untreated group were counted. There was no significant difference in the immunesuppression percentage between the treated and untreated groups 1 and 3 weeks after treatment. In 5 weeks after treatment, however, the immunesuppression percentage in the treated mice was markedly reduced in comparison with that of the untreated group. Recovery from immunesuppression appears to be associated with elimination or impairment of adult worms.     

Congenital infection with Schistosoma japonicum but not with Schistosoma bovis in sheep

The present study investigated whether Schistosoma japonicum or Schistosoma bois could establish prenatally in lambs. Three ewes were exposed to S. japonicum by intramuscular injection of cercariae, and 3 ewes were exposed to S. bovis cercariae using the leg-emerging technique approximately 2 mo before delivery, and 1 age-matched pregnant ewe served as an uninfected control. The study lasted 18-20 wk after infection, which was 8-9 wk after delivery. All 6 exposed ewes became infected with either S. bovis or S. japonicum. Eight lambs were borne by the 7 ewes, of which 1 (S. bovis exposed) was dead and 1 (S. japonicum exposed) died at delivery. Of the 3 S. japonicum-exposed lambs, 2 were found infected. Four lambs born of S. bovis-exposed ewes were negative. Despite having no worms, these 4 S. bovis-exposed lambs as well as the 1 negative S. japonicum-exposed lamb had, in contrast to the nonexposed control lamb, few, but distinct, liver granulomas dominated by eosinophils and giant cells with large central necrotic areas but with no remnants of eggs or worms. Hence, congenital infection was demonstrated in S. japonicum-infected lambs, but not in S. bovis-infected ones.