Bile Duct Ligation in Mice: Induction of Inflammatory Liver Injury and Fibrosis by Obstructive Cholestasis

In most vertebrates, the liver produces bile that is necessary to emulsify absorbed fats and enable the digestion of lipids in the small intestine as well as to excrete bilirubin and other metabolic products. In the liver, the experimental obstruction of the extrahepatic biliary system initiates a complex cascade of pathological events that leads to cholestasis and inflammation resulting in a strong fibrotic reaction originating from the periportal fields. Therefore, surgical ligation of the common bile duct has become the most commonly used model to induce obstructive cholestatic injury in rodents and to study the molecular and cellular events that underlie these pathophysiological mechanisms induced by inappropriate bile flow. In recent years, different surgical techniques have been described that either allow reconnection or reanastomosis after bile duct ligation (BDL), e.g., partial BDL, or other microsurgical methods for specific research questions. However, the most frequently used model is the complete obstruction of the common bile duct that induces a strong fibrotic response after 21 to 28 days. The mortality rate can be high due to infectious complications or technical inaccuracies. Here we provide a detailed surgical procedure for the BDL model in mice that induce a highly reproducible fibrotic response in accordance to the 3R rule for animal welfare postulated by Russel and Burch in 1959.     

Inhibition of EZH2 Attenuates Sorafenib Resistance by Targeting NOTCH1 Activation-Dependent Liver Cancer Stem Cells via NOTCH1-Related MicroRNAs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Acquired resistance and intrinsic to sorafenib therapy represents a major hurdle in improving the management of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which has been recently shown to be associated with the emergence of liver cancer stem cells (CSCs). However, it remains largely unknown whether and how histone posttranslational modifications, especially H3K27me3, are causally linked to the maintenance of self-renewal ability in sorafenib-resistant HCC. Here, we found that NOTCH1 signaling was activated in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells and NOTCH1 activation conferred hepatoma cells sorafenib resistance through enhanced self-renewal and tumorigenecity. Besides, the overexpression of EZH2 was required for the emergence of cancer stem cells following prolonged sorafenib treatment. As such, modulating EZH2 expression or activity suppressed activation of NOTCH1 pathway by elevating the expression of NOTCH1-related microRNAs, hsa-miR-21-5p and has-miR-26a-1-5p, via H3K27me3, and consequently weakened self-renewal ability and tumorigenecity and restored the anti-tumor effects of sorafenib. Overall, our results highlight the role of EZH2/NICD1 axis, and also suggest that EZH2 and NOTCH1 pathway are rational targets for therapeutic intervention in sorafenib-resistant HCC.     

热休克因子1通过上调蛋白质C减轻脓毒症凝血功能障碍保护小鼠急性肺损伤

目的 探讨热休克因子1 （HSF1）减轻脓毒症凝血功能障碍,保护小鼠急性肺损伤的机制。方法 本研究采用盲肠结扎穿孔术（cecal ligation and puncture,CLP）制备脓毒症小鼠模型,检测凝血相关指标和观察小鼠肺部病理变化,通过酶联免疫吸附实验（ELISA）、q RT-PCR和蛋白质印迹法（Western blot）等方法检测蛋白质C表达水平,通过质粒转染抑制或增强HSF1表达从而观察蛋白质C表达水平的变化,并利用生物信息学、凝胶电泳迁移实验（EMSA）和双荧光素酶报告基因实验探讨HSF1调节蛋白质C转录的机制。结果 在CLP脓毒症小鼠模型中,HSF-/-组小鼠的凝血活性与HSF1^+/+组相比明显增强,肺损伤明显加重。ELISA、qRT-PCR和Western blot检测发现,HSF^-/-脓毒症小鼠血浆和肺组织中的蛋白质C表达水平显著低于野生型小鼠。体外bEnd.3血管内皮细胞的实验结果显示,HSF1抑制脂多糖（LPS）诱导的蛋白质C表达,HSF1过表达则增强蛋白质C表达。生物信息学数据分析提示,蛋白质C启动子区含有HSF...     

Targeting JNK by a New Curcumin Analog to Inhibit NF-kB-Mediated Expression of Cell Adhesion Molecules Attenuates Renal Macrophage Infiltration and Injury in Diabetic Mice

Macrophage infiltration contributes to the pathogenesis of diabetic renal injury. However, the regulatory mechanisms between macrophage infiltration and epithelial cell activation are still unclear. Our previous study found that C66, a novel curcumin analog, was able to inhibit inflammatory cytokine expression in vitro and in vivo. This study further elucidated whether C66 can prevent glucose-induced renal epithelial activation and inflammatory macrophage infiltration by a MAPK/NF-κB medicated mechanism. Our data show that pretreatment with C66 not only significantly reduced high glucose (HG)-induced over-expressions of VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and MCP-1, but also remarkably inhibited NF-κB activation, MAPKs phosphorylation, and subsequently macrophage adhesion in renal epithelial NRK-52E cells. Furthermore, we find that MAPKs, especially JNK, play important roles in HG-induced NF-κB activation, which regulates the over-expression of adhesion molecules in HG-stimulated NRK-52E cells. A molecular docking predicted that C66 may target JNK2, which leads to its anti-inflammatory actions. In vivo, administration of C66 or JNK special inhibitor SP600125 at 5 mg/kg markedly decreased diabetes-induced renal adhesion molecule expression, NF-κB activation, inflammatory cell infiltration, and pathological indexes in the kidneys of diabetic mice. These findings provide a perspective on the renoprotective effects of C66 in diabetes, and outline a novel therapeutic strategy of JNK inhibition for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.     

对乙酰氨基酚诱导的小鼠药物性肝损伤的模型研究

改良对乙酰氨基酚（acetaminophen,APAP）单独诱导小鼠急性肝损伤的模型和致死模型。随机将小鼠分为4组：空白对照组、APAP3h组、APAP6h组和APAP12h组,每组5只。饥饿15h后用对乙酰氨基酚诱发小鼠肝损伤。测定各组血清ALT、AST及胆红素含量,HE染色观察各组肝组织损伤情况。观察生存率时,小鼠随机分为对照组、禁食＋APAP（500mg／kg）组、禁食＋APAP（300mg／kg）组和不禁食＋APAP（500mg／kg）组,四组同时给药,然后记录各组小鼠的生存情况,绘制四组小鼠的生存曲线。小鼠注射APAP后,随时间的延长,ALT、AST水平逐渐升高,均明显高于空白对照组（P〈0．05）。小鼠肝脏HE染色可见,APAP中毒组小鼠肝细胞坏死及炎性细胞浸润。禁食＋APAP（500mg／kg）组小鼠自16h开始出现死亡,72h时全部死亡,死亡率明显高于不禁食组和禁食＋APAP（300mg/kg）组小鼠。该研究对APAPI起的C57／BL6小鼠药物性肝损伤模型进行改良,使其更加稳定和便于研究,为进一步探究APAP诱导肝毒性的机制及防治措施奠定了基础。     

Dietary Zinc Deficiency Exaggerates Ethanol-Induced Liver Injury in Mice: Involvement of Intrahepatic and Extrahepatic Factors

Clinical studies have demonstrated that alcoholics have a lower dietary zinc intake compared to health controls. The present study was undertaken to determine the interaction between dietary zinc deficiency and ethanol consumption in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease. C57BL/6N mice were subjected to 8-week feeding of 4 experimental liquid diets: (1) zinc adequate diet, (2) zinc adequate diet plus ethanol, (3) zinc deficient diet, and (4) zinc deficient diet plus ethanol. Ethanol exposure with adequate dietary zinc resulted in liver damage as indicated by elevated plasma alanine aminotransferase level and increased hepatic lipid accumulation and inflammatory cell infiltration. Dietary zinc deficiency alone increased hepatic lipid contents, but did not induce hepatic inflammation. Dietary zinc deficiency showed synergistic effects on ethanol-induced liver damage. Dietary zinc deficiency exaggerated ethanol effects on hepatic genes related to lipid metabolism and inflammatory response. Dietary zinc deficiency worsened ethanol-induced imbalance between hepatic pro-oxidant and antioxidant enzymes and hepatic expression of cell death receptors. Dietary zinc deficiency exaggerated ethanol-induced reduction of plasma leptin, although it did not affect ethanol-induced reduction of white adipose tissue mass. Dietary zinc deficiency also deteriorated ethanol-induced gut permeability increase and plasma endotoxin elevation. These results demonstrate, for the first time, that dietary zinc deficiency is a risk factor in alcoholic liver disease, and multiple intrahepatic and extrahepatic factors may mediate the detrimental effects of zinc deficiency.     

HSP70 inhibition by 2-phenylethynesulfonamide induces lysosomal cathepsin D release and immunogenic cell death in primary effusion lymphoma

Heat-shock protein (HSP) 70 is aberrantly expressed in different malignancies and has a cancer-specific cell-protective effect. As such, it has emerged as a promising target for anticancer therapy. In this study, the effect of the HSP70-specific inhibitor (PES), also Pifitrin-μ, on primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) cell viability was analyzed. PES treatment induced a dose- and time-dependent cytotoxic effect in BC3 and BCBL1 PEL cells by inducing lysosome membrane permeabilization, relocation of cathepsin D in the cytosol, Bid cleavage, mitochondrial depolarization with release and nuclear translocation of apoptosis-activating factor. The PES-induced cell death in PEL cells was characterized by the appearance of Annexin-V/propidium iodide double-positive cells from the early times of treatment, indicating the occurrence of an additional type of cell death other than apoptosis, which, accordingly, was not efficiently prevented by the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk. Conversely, PES-induced cell death was robustly reduced by pepstatin A, which inhibits Bid and caspase 8 processing. In addition, PES was responsible for a block of the autophagic process in PEL cells. Finally, we found that PES-induced cell death has immunogenic potential being able to induce dendritic cell activation.     

Polarized distribution of NHE1 and NHE2 in the rat epididymis

Previous studies from our laboratory have provided evidence that the rat epididymis utilizes the Na(+)/H(+) exchanger to transport acid and base. The present study was undertaken to use immunohistochemistry for investigating the localization (apical versus basolateral) and distribution of NHE1 and NHE2 proteins along intact rat epididymis. Both proteins were found to be exclusively localized within the epithelium. Immunoreactivity for NHE1 was detected on the basolateral surface, whereas NHE2 immunoreactivity was detected on the apical side of the epithelium. Interestingly, NHE1 was found along the entire length of the epididymal tubule whereas NHE2 was absent in the initial segment but present in the caput, corpus, and cauda regions. These results, when interpreted along with those of previous functional studies, may suggest that the apical NHE2 is involved in Na(+) reabsorption and the basolateral NHE1 in HCO(3)(-) secretion in the rat epididymis.     

黄芪多糖预防2 型糖尿病大鼠肝损伤的实验研究

目的:研究分析黄芪多糖(Astragalus polysaecharides,APS)在预防2型糖尿病大鼠肝损伤的作用。方法:Wistar大鼠72只,其中48只以小剂量链脲佐菌素(Streptozotocin,STZ)建立2型糖尿病大鼠模型,并随机分为模型对照组(B组)和APS组(C组),余24只大鼠为正常对照组(A组)。C组大鼠给予APS 400 mg/kg/d灌胃,A、B组分别给予等量生理盐水。分别于第0、2、4、6周检测3组大鼠血清谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、谷草转氨酶(AST)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)以及丙二醛(MDA)水平,透射电镜下观察3组大鼠肝细胞超微结构变化。结果:第0、2周时B、C组大鼠ALT、AST、SOD以及MDA水平比较无显著差异(P0.05)。第4、6周时,C组大鼠ALT、AST以及MDA水平均高于A组,但低于B组;而SOD水平低于A组,但高于B组;差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。电镜下观察,A组肝细胞内大量线粒体、内质网,结构完好,未见损伤;B组细胞器数量减少,线粒体及内质网形态异常,膜结构破损,细胞空化;C组细胞器也存在损伤,但较B组明显减轻。结论:APS可增加肝细胞抗氧化酶的活性,促进氧自由基的清除,减少肝细胞损伤,对预防2型糖尿病引起的肝功能损害有一定的价值。     

Vitamin E Attenuates the Progression of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Caused by Partial Hepatectomy in Mice

Background and Aim

The progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) likely involves a ‘multiple hit’ mechanism. We hypothesized that partial hepatectomy, a procedure performed frequently in patients with NAFLD, would accelerate the progression of disease.

Methods

C57BL/6JolaHsd mice were fed a choline-deficient L-amino acid-defined diet (CD-AA) or a choline-sufficient L-amino acid-defined control diet (CS-AA). Part of the mice in the CD-AA group received a diet enriched in vitamin E (~20 mg /day). Two weeks after the start of the diet, mice underwent a partial hepatectomy or a sham operation.

Results

In the CD-AA group, NAFLD activity scores were significantly higher at 7 days after partial hepatectomy compared to the sham operated mice (3.7 ± 1.3 vs. 1.8 ± 0.7; P<0.05). In addition, TBARS, a measure for oxidative stress, in liver tissue of the CD-AA group were significantly higher at day 1, 3 and 7 after partial hepatectomy compared to the sham operated mice (P<0.05). Vitamin E therapy significantly reduced TBARS level at day 7 after partial hepatectomy compared to the CD-AA diet group (P< 0.05). Vitamin E suppletion reduced NAFLD activity score at day 7 after partial hepatectomy compared to the CD-AA group (2.3 ± 0.8 vs. 3.8 ± 1.0; P<0.05).

Conclusion

Partial hepatectomy accelerates the progression of NAFLD. Disease progression induced by partial hepatectomy is substantially attenuated by vitamin E.     

Knock Out of S1P3 Receptor Signaling Attenuates Inflammation and Fibrosis in Bleomycin-Induced Lung Injury Mice Model

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive sphingolipid metabolite involved in many critical cellular processes, including proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis, through interaction with a family of five G protein–coupled receptors (S1P1–5). Some reports have implicated S1P as an important inflammatory mediator of the pathogenesis of airway inflammation, but the role of S1P3 in the pathogenesis of lung diseases is not completely understood. We used S1P3-deficient (knockout (KO)) mice to clarify the role of S1P3 receptor signaling in the pathogenesis of pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis using a bleomycin-induced model of lung injury. On the seventh day after bleomycin administration, S1P3 KO mice exhibited significantly less body weight loss and pulmonary inflammation than wild-type (WT) mice. On the 28th day, there was less pulmonary fibrosis in S1P3 KO mice than in WT mice. S1P3 KO mice demonstrated a 56% reduction in total cell count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) collected on the seventh day compared with WT mice; however, the differential white blood cell profiles were similar. BALF analysis on the seventh day showed that connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) levels were significantly decreased in S1P3 KO mice compared with WT mice, although no differences were observed in monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) or transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) levels. Finally, S1P levels in BALF collected on the 7th day after treatment were not significantly different between WT and S1P3 KO mice. Our results indicate that S1P3 receptor signaling plays an important role in pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis and that this signaling occurs via CTGF expression. This suggests that this pathway might be a therapeutic target for pulmonary fibrosis.     

Evaluation of Liver Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rabbits Using a Nanoscale Ultrasound Contrast Agent Targeting ICAM-1

ObjectiveTo assess the feasibility of ultrasound molecular imaging in the early diagnosis of liver ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) using a nanoscale contrast agent targeting anti-intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (anti-ICAM-1).MethodsThe targeted nanobubbles containing anti-ICAM-1 antibody were prepared using the avidin-biotin binding method. Human hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells (HHSECs) were cultured at the circumstances of hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) and low temperature. The rabbit liver IRI model (I/R group) was established using the Pringle’s maneuver. The time-intensity curve of the liver contrast ultrasonographic images was plotted and the peak intensity, time to peak, and time of duration were calculated.ResultsThe size of the targeted nanobubbles were 148.15 ± 39.75 nm and the concentration was 3.6–7.4 × 10⁹/ml, and bound well with the H/R HHSECs. Animal contrast enhanced ultrasound images showed that the peak intensity and time of duration of the targeted nanobubbles were significantly higher than that of common nanobubbles in the I/R group, and the peak intensity and time of duration of the targeted nanobubbles in the I/R group were also significantly higher than that in the SO group.ConclusionThe targeted nanobubbles have small particle size, stable characteristic, and good targeting ability, which can assess hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury specifically, noninvasively, and quantitatively at the molecular level.     

Concomitant Induction of Heme Oxygenase‐1 Attenuates the Cytotoxicity of Arsenic Species from Lumbricus Extract in Human Liver HepG2 Cells

Heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) is an inducible antioxidant enzyme that degrades heme to three products, biliverdin, carbon monoxide (CO), and iron ion. The present study was originally designed to characterize the HO‐1 induction by Lumbricus extract as a potential cytoprotective mechanism. Through bioactivity‐guided fractionation, with human HepG2 cells as the cellular detector, surprisingly, we found that arsenic was enriched in the active fractions isolated from Lumbricus extract. Arsenic speciation was further carried out by liquid chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LC/ICP‐MS). Our results showed that Lumbricus extract contained two major arsenic species, arsenite (As^III; 53.7%) and arsenate (As^V; 34.2%), and six minor arsenic species. Commercial sodium arsenite (NaAsO₂) was used to verify the effects of Lumbricus extract on HO‐1 expression and related intracellular signaling pathways. Both p38 MAP kinase and NF‐E2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathways were found to modulate HO‐1 induction by Lumbricus extract and NaAsO₂. The cytotoxicity of arsenite was augmented by p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB202190 and HO‐1 inhibitor tin protoporphyrin IX (SnPP), whereas p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB202190 also inhibited HO‐1 induction by NaAsO₂. These results suggest that arsenic‐containing compounds are responsible for HO‐1 induction by Lumbricus extract. Although the exact role of toxic arsenic compounds in the treatment of oxidative injury remains unclear, concomitant HO‐1 induction may be a key mechanism to antagonize the cytotoxicity of arsenic compounds in human cells.     

急性肝损伤小鼠中线粒体解耦联蛋白2的表达变化及意义

目的:观察C57小鼠急性肝损伤(acute liver injury,ALI)中解偶联蛋白2(Uncouple Protein2,UCP2)的表达,探讨ALI与UCP2表达变化的意义。方法:领取36只小鼠,随机分为对照组、ALI 1 d组、ALI 4 d组、ALI 7 d组。分别检测血清谷氨酸转氨酶(ALT)、天冬氨酸转氨酶(AST)的变化;肝组织病理变化用HE染色观察;利用Western Blot方法分别检测全肝组织蛋白和肝细胞线粒体提纯蛋白中的UCP2蛋白水平的变化;Real Time quality PCR检测UCP2在mRNA水平的表达变化。结果:ALI组1 d、4 d组与对照组相比,ALT(160.69±22.11 vs 34.43±5.19;96.37±15.39 vs 34.43±5.19)、AST(306.54±68.09 vs 97.74±14.49;173.94±26.74 vs 97.74±14.49)表达差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);肝组织病理学检查ALI组1 d和4 d组中肝细胞出现大面积坏死,7d组肝细胞坏死缓解;蛋白水平检测UCP2在ALI 1 d和4 d时全肝组织分别增加2.84倍和2.25倍,在肝线粒体中1 d、4 d和7 d时分别增加2.19倍、1.68倍和1.56倍,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);mRNA水平检测UCP2在ALI 1 d和4 d与对照组相比明显升高,相对增加3.79倍和1.46倍(P0.05)。结论:急性肝损伤状态下UCP2在蛋白和mRNA水平高表达,UCP2可能对于治疗急性肝损伤具有重要意义。     

Green Tea Extract Rich in Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Prevents Fatty Liver by AMPK Activation via LKB1 in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet

Supplementation with epigallocatechin-3-gallate has been determined to aid in the prevention of obesity. Decaffeinated green tea extract appears to restore a normal hepatic metabolic profile and attenuate high-fat diet (HFD)-induced effects, thereby preventing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice. Mice were maintained on either a control diet (CD) or HFD for 16 weeks and supplemented with either water or green tea extract (50 mg/kg/day). The body mass increase, serum adiponectin level, and lipid profile were measured over the course of the treatment. Furthermore, the AMPK pathway protein expression in the liver was measured. From the fourth week, the weight gain in the CD + green tea extract (CE) group was lower than that in the CD + water (CW) group. From the eighth week, the weight gain in the HFD + water (HFW) group was found to be higher than that in the CW group. Moreover, the weight gain in the HFD + green tea extract (HFE) group was found to be lower than that in the HFW group. Carcass lipid content was found to be higher in the HFW group than that in the CW and HFE groups. Serum analysis showed reduced non-esterified fatty acid level in the CE and HFE groups as compared with their corresponding placebo groups. Increased adiponectin level was observed in the same groups. Increased VLDL-TG secretion was observed in the HFW group as compared with the CW and HFE groups. Increased protein expression of AdipoR2, SIRT1, pLKB1, and pAMPK was observed in the HFE group, which explained the reduced expression of ACC, FAS, SREBP-1, and ChREBP in this group. These results indicate that the effects of decaffeinated green tea extract may be related to the activation of AMPK via LKB1 in the liver of HFD-fed mice.     

急性铅应激诱导肝肾损伤及其分子机制初探

利用腹腔注射醋酸铅方法构建了铅染毒小鼠(Mus muscculus)模型,观察了染毒小鼠肝、肾的组织学变化,并通过免疫组织化学方法检测了染毒小鼠肝、肾组织中Caspase-3、Bcl-2和Bax蛋白的表达量.结果发现,急性铅染毒可诱导肝和肾组织学损伤,且在诱导肝细胞和肾细胞凋亡、损伤过程中,随时间的延长,Caspase-3的表达量逐渐增加,而Bcl-2与Bax两蛋白表达量的比值呈逐渐下降趋势,有一定的时效性,染毒48 h后,与对照组相比,均差异极显著,表明铅可能通过影响Caspase-3、Bcl-2和Bax的表达而诱导肝和肾细胞异常凋亡.