鳖甲在抗肝纤维化和抗肝癌作用中的研究进展

鳖甲性寒味咸,归肝肾经,能滋阴潜阳,善于软坚散结。张仲景创立的经典方剂鳖甲煎丸方中以鳖甲为主药,具有行气活血、祛湿化痰、软坚消癥的功效。近年来鳖甲及其复方鳖甲煎丸在临床上广泛应用于肝硬化及肝癌的治疗,取得了较好的疗效。在作用机制研究中发现鳖甲的抗肝纤维化作用可能与其对机体炎症环节的影响有关,同时对细胞外基质(ECM)和肝星状细胞(HSC)具有调控作用;在抗肝癌研究中,发现单味鳖甲和鳖甲煎丸可能通过增强小鼠的免疫功能、肝脏保护作用,发挥抑制肝癌细胞生长的作用。本研究对鳖甲及其复方鳖甲煎丸在肝纤维化和肝癌的临床治疗应用,以及实验研究进展做一综述,以期为研究鳖甲在抗肝纤维化和抗肝癌作用中的机制研究,及肝纤维化及肝癌的治疗和预防提供参考。     

血红素加氧酶与炎症性疾病

血红素加氧酶(HO)是一种降解血红素的限速酶,它能催化血红素降解生成一氧化碳(CO)、胆绿素和游离铁离子。大量证据表明HO-1及其催化产物具有抗炎、抗氧化损伤、抗增生等功能,具有细胞保护作用,能使细胞产生对伤害性刺激的适应和保护性作用。炎症反应是大多数疾病共同的病理特征,研究HO与炎症的关系将为炎症性疾病的治疗开辟新的途径。     

望江南总蒽醌苷抗肿瘤作用的研究

探讨望江南总蒽醌苷(CSAG)的抗肿瘤作用及其作用机制.利用MTT法检测望江南总蒽醌苷对肝癌细胞HepS、肺癌细胞(A549)、小鼠肉瘤(S180)腹水型肿瘤细胞等肿瘤细胞和人正常肝细胞L-02增殖的影响;实体瘤称重法测定CSAG对肝癌(HepS)实体瘤的抑制情况,将接种肿瘤的小鼠分成5组,每组6只小鼠,雌雄各半,给药12 d,停药后24 h处死动物,秤鼠体重,剥离出肿瘤,秤瘤重,测定生化指标.结果显示,CSAG对以上肿瘤细胞的增殖均有抑制作用,对肝癌细胞荷瘤小鼠肿瘤生长具有明显的抑制作用;同时可增加胸腺指数和脾指数.因此,CSAG具有明显的抗肿瘤效果,其抗肿瘤作用可能与提高机体免疫力和诱导细胞凋亡有关.     

甲胎蛋白在体外对人肝癌细胞生长的影响

本文用MTT比色法观察了甲胎蛋白(AFP)在体外对人肝癌细胞生长的影响。结果表明,AFP能促进SMMC-7721人肝癌细胞的生长。当AFP与AFP抗体合用时,AFP抗体能减弱AFP对SMMC-7721细胞生长的促进作用;AFP抗体单用对此种细胞的生长亦有抑制作用。另一方面,在相同的实验条件下,AFP和AFP抗体对HL-60人白血病细胞的生长无明显影响;提示AFP的促生长作用具有一定的肿瘤细胞特异性,并非一种蛋白质对培养细胞的非特异性营养作用。此外,AFP亦能促进MCF-7人乳腺癌细胞的生长,AFP抗体对此种细胞的生长有抑制作用。由于MCF-7细胞存在功能性AFP受体,也能合成和分泌AFP。这就提示,人肝癌细胞中的AFP很可能与其受体特异性结合,产生促生长效应。确切机制尚待进一步阐明。     

脱-γ-羧基凝血酶原与原发性肝癌

脱-γ-羧基凝血酶原(Des-γ-carboxy-prothrombin,DCP)是由原发性人肝细胞癌(human hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC)特异性产生并可能具有刺激HCC生长、浸润和促进转移等作用的刺激因子.肝癌细胞一些依赖维生素K代谢酶障碍可能与DCP具有一定关系;刺激肝癌细胞生长机制可能与激活Met-Janus kinase 1-STAT3和KDR-PLC-γ-raf-MEK-MAPK信号传导通路相联系.该文综述了近年来在DCP与原发性肝癌方面的一些研究结果,及其在肝癌研究与治疗方面的价值.     

TGFα对肝癌细胞SMMC-7721增殖和ERK蛋白的影响

目的观察TGFα诱导肝癌细胞增殖和对信号传导因子ERK蛋白表达的影响.方法应用MTT比色法观察不同浓度TGFα对肝癌细胞SMMC-7721的增殖作用.用流式细胞术检测TGFα对肝癌细胞凋亡和细胞周期的影响.用免疫组化方法检测TGFα对ERK蛋白表达影响.结果 1μg/L TGFα作用24h SMMC-7721细胞增殖率为3%(P>0.05);作用48h后增殖率达16%(P<0.05).5μg/L TGFα作用24h增殖率达18%(P<0.05);作用48h增殖率达24%(P<0.01),增殖效应呈时间、剂量依赖性.5μg/L TGFα作用肝癌细胞48h能抑制肝癌细胞凋亡,使细胞滞留于G2M期,增加PI.5μg/L TGFα能促进ERK蛋白在细胞核中的表达.结论 TGFα能促进肝癌细胞增殖,增加ERK蛋白在细胞核中的表达.     

RNA干扰肝细胞肝癌中PECAM-1的表达对肿瘤细胞侵袭及增殖的影响

目的:探讨PECAM-1在肝细胞肝癌(Hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC)组织中的表达及意义。方法:选择2013年5月-2015年6月在我院接受治疗的HCC患者100例,收集肝癌患者HCC组织及癌旁组织,另选取100例正常肝脏组织作为对照组。应用免疫组织化学法检测PECAM-1在肝癌组织、癌旁组织以及正常肝脏组织中的阳性表达。利用小分子干扰RNA技术(si RNA)构建低表达的PECAM-1,并转染至肝癌细胞中抑制PECAM-1的表达。应用Transwell小室法检测肝癌细胞的侵袭能力,CCK-8法检测肝癌细胞的增殖能力。结果:PECAM-1在肝癌组织、癌旁组织及正常肝脏组织中呈不同程度阳性表达(P0.05);PECAM-1在肝癌组织及癌旁组织中的表达显著高于正常肝脏组织,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);PECAM-1在肝癌组织中的表达显著高于癌旁组织,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);转染si RNA PECAM-1后,肝癌细胞中PECAM-1 m RNA的表达水平明显下降,PECAM-1蛋白表达也明显降低,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);转染si RNA PECAM-1后,肝癌细胞侵袭及增殖能力明显降低,差异具有统计学意义(P0.001)。结论:PECAM-1在肝癌患者血清中高表达,PECAM-1 si RNA能够抑制肝癌细胞的侵袭及增殖能力,提示PECAM-1可作为预测肝癌发生及发展的临床指标。     

硫利达嗪对肝癌干细胞的杀伤作用研究

硫利达嗪(Thioridazine,THO)在临床上通常用于治疗精神类疾病;近年来,研究发现THO对肿瘤细胞具有杀伤效果,但其对肝癌干细胞的杀伤作用还未曾有报道。肿瘤干细胞在肿瘤的转移、复发及耐药性方面起着十分重要的作用。利用体外悬浮培养富集肿瘤干细胞并检测药物THO对其杀伤效果,并以此评价THO对肿瘤生长的体外抑制效应。通过检测体外悬浮培养肝癌干细胞在肿瘤干细胞相关因子表达、耐药性及细胞周期等方面因素,显示在一定程度上其具备肿瘤干细胞样特征,磷酸化STAT3、NANOG和XIAP表达显著上调,而Albumin表达下调;进一步运用MTT、Western blotting和细胞流式等实验验证了THO对肝癌干细胞具有较强的杀伤效果并能诱导caspase依赖的细胞凋亡,而对分化的肝癌细胞影响较弱;此外,THO和化疗药物盐酸阿霉素(DOX)的联合使用显著增强了其对肝癌干细胞和分化的肝癌细胞的杀伤作用。因此,该结果首次显示THO对肝癌干细胞具有较强的杀伤能力,可能为今后肝癌的临床治疗带来新的希望。     

转移性人肝癌类组织体模型的建立

为了探讨三维培养状态下人肝癌细胞的生物学特征和转移潜能,利用旋转壁式生物反应器(rotating wall vessel, RWV)结合生物支架材料,将高转移性人肝癌细胞(MHCC97H)成功地构建成一种新的转移性人肝癌类组织体模型,针对肝癌细胞的临床病理特征,一系列体外和体内实验包括组织形态、显微结构、蛋白质产生和分泌、葡萄糖代谢、组织特征基因表达、细胞的生长和凋亡,以及在裸鼠中的成瘤性和转移性等对模型进行检测评估,结果均显示,该模型能较好地模拟转移性人肝癌组织的病理特征,且优于单层培养的人肝癌细胞,该模型可能对肝癌转移分子机制探讨、抗癌药物筛选以及肝癌动物模型建立产生积极的推动,同时也表明肝细胞癌(HCC)细胞的立体形态结构对维持肝癌细胞生物学功能十分重要．     

HO-1与HCV的相关性研究

血红素加氧酶-1（hemeoxygenase-1,HO-1）在肝脏和脾脏高表达,可以被包括某些病毒感染在内的多种因素诱导表达,具有抗氧化、抗炎、抗凋亡等保护作用。丙型肝炎病毒（hepatitisCvirus,HCV）感染可以造成慢型肝炎、肝硬化和肝癌等疾病,对人类健康造成很大威胁。研究发现HO-1通过影响HCV的复制发挥其保护作用,同时HCV也可以反向调控HO-1的表达。尽管HO-1与HCV相互作用的分子机制还不明确,但H0—1与HCV感染相关性研究不断取得重大进展,将为HCV感染的治疗提供一种新方法。     

Stem Cell Transplantation Upregulates Sirt1 and Antioxidant Expression,Ameliorating Fatty Liver in Type 2 Diabetic Mice

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and obesity. The db/db mouse model displays increased levels of insulin resistance, obesity, and an over-accumulation of hepatic triglycerides, making it an excellent model for studying NAFLD. In db/db mice, intra-bone marrow-bone marrow transplantation plus thymus transplantation (IBM-BMT+TT) improves type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2 DM) by normalizing the T-cell imbalance. We hypothesized that this approach would improve Sirt1 expression in the liver and benefit liver development.The db/db mice were treated with IBM-BMT+TT, and plasma MCP-1, IL-6, adiponection, LDL, Sirt1, and HO-1 levels were then assessed. Stem cell transplantation decreased the levels of plasma inflammatory cytokines and LDL while it increased the expression of Sirt1 and HO-1, resulting in decreased progression of fatty liver. Moreover, Sirt1 and HO-1 expression were both detected in the thymus and many HO-1-positive cells were observed in the bone marrow.This is the first report of stem cell transplantation improving the antioxidant function in the liver, thymus, and bone marrow of db/db mice by increasing the levels of Sirt1 and HO-1. This approach may prove useful in the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and its clinical manifestations.     

Mesenchymal stem cells increase heme oxygenase 1-activated autophagy in treatment of acute liver failure

In recent years, transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has attracted much attention as a potential cell-based therapy for acute liver failure (ALF). As an inducible enzyme, heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) has been reported to have cytoprotective, anti-apoptotic and immunoregulatory effects. Autophagy, a conserved catabolic process in cells, may be an important pathway for MSCs to treat ALF. In this study, we aimed to explore whether MSCs treat ALF by regulating autophagy and whether HO-1 was involved in the same pathway. Bone marrow-derived MSCs were isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats and cultured according to an established protocol. Co-culture systems of MSCs and hepatocytes were used to assess autophagy in the treatment of ALF. Meanwhile, MSCs were transplanted into rats with d-galactosamine (Gal)-induced ALF. Autophagy inhibitor (3-methyladenine, 3-MA), HO-1 inhibitor (zinc protoporphyrin, ZnPP) and PI3K specific inhibitor (LY294002) were employed in the study. Blood samples and liver tissues were collected before euthanasia. Survival rate, liver function, inflammatory factors, histology, Ki67 and TUNEL staining were determined. MSCs transplantation alleviated ALF both in vivo and in vitro. Autophagy and autophagy-related proteins were significantly up-regulated during MSCs treatment. 3-MA attenuated the therapeutic effect of MSCs. Administration of LY294002 before ALF induction inhibited hepatocyte autophagy. During the MSCs treatment, the HO-1 expression was increased, while inhibiting HO-1 attenuated the therapeutic effect of MSCs as well as hepatocyte autophagy. These findings suggested MSCs could alleviate ALF by increasing the HO-1 expression, which played an important role in activating autophagy through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.     

Intrahepatic Tissue Implantation Represents a Favorable Approach for Establishing Orthotopic Transplantation Hepatocellular Carcinoma Mouse Models

Mouse models are commonly used for studying hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) biology and exploring new therapeutic interventions. Currently three main modalities of HCC mouse models have been extensively employed in pre-clinical studies including chemically induced, transgenic and transplantation models. Among them, transplantation models are preferred for evaluating in vivo drug efficacy in pre-clinical settings given the short latency, uniformity in size and close resemblance to tumors in patients. However methods used for establishing orthotopic HCC transplantation mouse models are diverse and fragmentized without a comprehensive comparison. Here, we systemically evaluate four different approaches commonly used to establish HCC mice in preclinical studies, including intravenous, intrasplenic, intrahepatic inoculation of tumor cells and intrahepatic tissue implantation. Four parameters—the latency period, take rates, pathological features and metastatic rates—were evaluated side-by-side. 100% take rates were achieved in liver with intrahepatic, intrasplenic inoculation of tumor cells and intrahepatic tissue implantation. In contrast, no tumor in liver was observed with intravenous injection of tumor cells. Intrahepatic tissue implantation resulted in the shortest latency with 0.5cm (longitudinal diameter) tumors found in liver two weeks after implantation, compared to 0.1cm for intrahepatic inoculation of tumor cells. Approximately 0.1cm tumors were only visible at 4 weeks after intrasplenic inoculation. Uniform, focal and solitary tumors were formed with intrahepatic tissue implantation whereas multinodular, dispersed and non-uniform tumors produced with intrahepatic and intrasplenic inoculation of tumor cells. Notably, metastasis became visible in liver, peritoneum and mesenterium at 3 weeks post-implantation, and lung metastasis was visible after 7 weeks. T cell infiltration was evident in tumors, resembling the situation in HCC patients. Our study demonstrated that orthotopic HCC mouse models established via intrahepatic tissue implantation authentically reflect clinical manifestations in HCC patients pathologically and immunologically, suggesting intrahepatic tissue implantation is a preferable approach for establishing orthotopic HCC mouse models.     

Estradiol receptor potentiates,in vitro,the activity of 5-methylcytosine DNA glycosylase

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is induced under various oxidative stress conditions, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) insult. Induction of HO-1 by LPS is reported to be mediated through interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), rather than other inflammatory cytokines in the mouse liver. However, we found that IL-1alpha/beta knockout (KO) mice responded well to LPS insult, as did wild-type mice with respect to HO-1 mRNA induction (about 30-fold increase). In contrast, tumor necrosis factor alpha KO (TNFalphaKO) mice responded very weakly to LPS in the HO-1 mRNA expression, but not metallothionein mRNA. Recent studies reveal that nitric oxide from Kupffer cells is involved in HO-1 induction in the liver produced by LPS. Therefore, nitrite and nitrate concentrations in the liver were also measured and these parameters did not increase in either IL-1KO or TNFalphaKO. In addition, the phosphorylation of c-JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38, but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase, was very low in TNFalphaKO mice due to LPS administration. All of these findings indicate that TNFalpha is a major candidate to trigger HO-1 induction in response to LPS stimulation, and that its message is likely transduced through JNK and p38 pathways.     

Differential cellular and subcellular localization of heme-binding protein 23/peroxiredoxin I and heme oxygenase-1 in rat liver.

Heme-binding protein 23 (HBP23), also termed peroxiredoxin (Prx) I, and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) are distinct antioxidant stress proteins that are co-ordinately induced by oxidative stress. HBP23/Prx I has thioredoxin-dependent peroxidase activity with high binding affinity for the pro-oxidant heme, while HO-1 is the inducible isoform of the rate-limiting enzyme of heme degradation. We investigated the cellular and subcellular localization of both proteins in rat liver. Whereas by immunohistochemistry (IHC) a uniformly high level of HBP23/Prx I expression was observed in liver parenchymal and different sinusoidal cells, HO-1 expression was restricted to Kupffer cells. By immunoelectron microscopy using the protein A-gold technique, HBP23/Prx I immunoreactivity was detected in cytoplasm, nuclear matrix, mitochondria, and peroxisomes of parenchymal and non-parenchymal liver cell populations. In contrast, the secretory pathway, i.e., the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex, was free of label. As determined by immunocytochemical (ICC) studies in liver cell cultures and by Western and Northern blotting analysis, HBP23/Prx I was highly expressed in cultures of isolated hepatocytes and Kupffer cells. In contrast, HO-1 was constitutively expressed only in Kupffer cell cultures but was also inducible in hepatocytes. These data suggest that HBP23/Prx I and HO-1 may have complementary antioxidant functions in different cell populations in rat liver.     

Role of heme oxygenase in preserving vascular bioactive NO

Beyond its vasodilator role, vascular nitric oxide (NO), which is synthesized by endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) via its activation, has been shown to play a number of other beneficial roles in the vascular system; it inhibits proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, prevents platelet aggregation, and regulates endothelial apoptosis. Such beneficial roles have been shown to be implicated in the regulation of endothelial functions. A loss of NO bioavailability that may result either from decreased eNOS expression and activity or from increased NO degradation is associated with endothelial dysfunction, a key factor in the development of vascular diseases. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an inducible enzyme, catalyzes the oxidative degradation of heme to free iron, carbon monoxide, and biliverdin, the latter being subsequently converted into bilirubin. In the vascular system, HO-1 and heme degradation products perform important physiological functions, which are ultimately linked to the protection of vascular cells. Studies have shown that HO-1 and heme degradation products exert vasodilatory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative and anti-apoptotic effects on vascular cells. Interestingly, these effects of HO-1 and its by-products are similar, at least in part, to those of eNOS-derived NO; this similarity may prompt investigators to study a possible relationship between eNOS-derived NO and HO-1 pathways. Many studies have been reported, and accumulating evidence suggests that HO-1 and heme degradation products can improve vascular function, at least in part, by compensating for the loss of NO bioavailability. This paper will provide the possible pathway explaining how HO-1 and heme degradation products can preserve vascular NO.