慢性感染非可控炎症引发肝癌的机制与治疗策略

免疫应答在调控肝癌等肿瘤发生中发挥双刃剑作用,只有慢性非可控炎症才引发肝细胞癌(HCC),这得到了大量动物模型和临床数据的支持.在慢性肝炎中浸润的免疫细胞直接杀伤肝细胞、炎症因子引发的细胞凋亡和坏死诱发肝细胞持续性炎症坏死与再生,这直接增加肝细胞突变的风险.NF-κB、JAK-STAT、MAPK/ERK等通路以及miR-122、miR-124、miR-637、miR-520e、miR-195等小RNA均参与慢性炎症-HCC的转化.阻断引发非可控炎症的诱因、直接靶向炎症因子以及干预慢性炎症引发HCC的关键信号通路,对于研发新型HCC的网络治疗方案至关重要.     

综述:乙型肝炎病毒所致非可控性炎症恶性转化的可能机制

肝细胞癌(HCC)占我国大陆地区恶性肿瘤死亡原因的第二位,主要由乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)慢性感染所致.人类白细胞Ⅱ类抗原遗传多态性与HBV感染的慢性化有关.HBV与免疫系统相互作用导致的非可控性炎症是HBV进化和HCC发生的必要因素.持续的、非充分的抗病毒免疫对HBV变异有选择作用.在炎症促癌过程中病毒和肝细胞基因组均经历了"变异-选择-适应"的进化过程.HBV变异不但能预测HCC的发生,而且具有促癌功能.HBV在肝细胞基因组中整合,尤其是羧基端截短型X基因的整合不但促进HCC的发生和转移,而且抵抗抗病毒治疗.明确HBV致癌机制可为降低和推迟HCC的发生和转移奠定基础.     

乙型肝炎病毒所致非可控性炎症恶性转化的可能机制

肝细胞癌(HCC)占我国大陆地区恶性肿瘤死亡原因的第二位,主要由乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)慢性感染所致.人类白细胞Ⅱ类抗原遗传多态性与HBV感染的慢性化有关.HBV与免疫系统相互作用导致的非可控性炎症是HBV进化和HCC发生的必要因素.持续的、非充分的抗病毒免疫对HBV变异有选择作用.在炎症促癌过程中病毒和肝细胞基因组均经历了"变异-选择-适应"的进化过程.HBV变异不但能预测HCC的发生,而且具有促癌功能.HBV在肝细胞基因组中整合,尤其是羧基端截短型X基因的整合不但促进HCC的发生和转移,而且抵抗抗病毒治疗.明确HBV致癌机制可为降低和推迟HCC的发生和转移奠定基础.     

肿瘤坏死因子信号传导的分子机理

肿瘤坏死因子(tumor necrosis factor,TNF)是一种具有多种生物学效应的细胞因子,其生物学效应包括促进细胞生长、分化、凋亡及炎症诱发等.TNF的生物学效应都是通过细胞表面的两种TNF受体引发的.TNF的信号传导通路主要包括细胞凋亡及转录因子NF-kB和JNK蛋白激酶的激活.这3条信号传导通路之间及各通路内部含有各种调节机制,使TNF的各种生物学功能协调发挥出来.从1994年到现在,对肿瘤坏死因子信号传导通路的分子机理研究取得了一系列突破性进展,在细胞信号传导研究领域中树立了成功的典范.     

肝脏特异性miR-122的分子生物学特性及功能

miR-122是在肝脏特异高表达的一种microRNA。研究表明：生理状态下,miR-122 在调控肝脏的细胞发育、诱导细胞分化、调节细胞代谢、参与肝细胞应急应答等生命活动过程中发挥重要作用;而在病理状态下,miR-122 与丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）和肝细胞肝癌（HCC）密切相关,可能促进HCV RNA 复制,并在HCC发生、发展过程中发挥抑癌基因样作用,可能对HCC 临床诊断和预后具有重要价值。鉴于miR-122 参与调控肝脏生理及肝脏重大疾病的发生、发展等过程,文章详细阐述并讨论miR-122 在肝脏中的生物学特性和功能,以及可能的作用机制。肝脏特异性miR-122 有可能作为治疗人类肝脏疾病的关键靶点。     

肿瘤坏死因子α通过激活NF-κB信号通路加快肝细胞周期进程

在慢性炎症部位有易发肿瘤的倾向,大约有20%的恶性肿瘤发生与慢性炎症相关,肝细胞癌是世界第三大癌症死亡病因,其患者多数有慢性炎症病史,当炎症慢性迁延,肝细胞癌发生率明显增加.但慢性炎症与肿瘤发生与发展的细胞和分子机制仍然不清楚.利用人肝细胞株L-02细胞,研究肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)对细胞周期的影响及其机制,并探讨核因子κB(NF-κB)和ERK1/2活化对细胞周期的影响,以期能更确切地阐明炎症介质TNF-α在肝细胞癌发生发展中的作用.发现TNF-α能促进肝细胞从G0/G1期向S期转换.蛋白质印迹检测表明,TNF-α能以剂量依赖方式诱导cyclinD1表达,而对cyclinE的表达无明显影响.同时TNF-α能激活NF-κB,ERK1/2,抑制NF-κB活化降低了TNF-α诱导的cyclinD1表达,导致细胞周期阻滞于G0/G1期.抑制ERK1/2活化则对细胞周期和cyclinD1表达无显著影响.结果提示,TNF-α通过活化NF-κB信号通路,诱导cyclinD1表达,加快细胞周期进程,这可能是促进肿瘤的发生发展重要机制.针对TNF-α和NF-κB的治疗可能延长慢性炎症相关性肿瘤的潜伏期和抑制肿瘤的发展.     

Nature Commu.:免疫细胞的阴暗面——可促进癌症发展

<正>Newcastle大学的一个研究团队最近发现,我们机体中特异化了的免疫细胞,通常情况下,是保护我们防感染的。然而,这些细胞在肝癌发展方面有其不为人知的阴暗面。发表在Nature Communications上的一篇文章报道了,中性粒细胞如何在已有慢性疾病损伤的肝脏细胞中,促进了致癌作用。现已知,慢性肝脏炎症或者肝炎是引发一种特定类型的肝癌的风险因子,即肝细胞癌(HCC)。然而,炎症是一个复杂的过程,包括来源于我们     

肝细胞癌患者血清外泌体microRNA表达鉴定

目的:探讨肝癌细胞外泌体中差异表达的microRNAs(miRNAs)在肝细胞癌(HCC)诊断中的应用价值。方法:通过高通量测序筛选肝癌细胞外泌体中差异表达的miRNAs。实时定量PCR验证差异表达分子;检测差异表达的miRNAs在健康人(Health)、慢性乙型肝炎患者(CHB)、肝硬化患者(LC)及乙型肝炎病毒阳性的肝细胞癌患者(HCC)血清外泌体中的表达。结果:高通量测序筛选到肝癌细胞外泌体中差异表达的miRNA共88种,其中58种表达上调,30种表达下调。选择其中8种差异表达的miRNAs进行q RT-PCR验证,结果显示,此8种miRNAs在细胞上清外泌体、细胞内、癌与癌旁组织中的表达趋势与测序结果一致。miR-221-3p和miR-224-5p在HCC组外泌体中的表达水平显著高于Health组、CHB组和LC组(P0.01),miR-124-3p和let-7a-5p在HCC组外泌体中的表达水平显著低于其他各组(P0.05)。四个组中,miR-21-5p、miR-191-5p、miR-34a-5p和miR-122-5p的表达水平不存在显著性差异(P0.05)。结论:血清外泌体中的miR-221-3p、miR-224-5p、miR-124-3p和let-7a-5p可能成为肝细胞癌的候选标志物。     

微小RNAs在心力衰竭炎症机制中作用的研究进展

微小RNA是一组高度保守的长度约22个核苷酸非编码RNA,通过靶定相应的互补序列导致信使RNA的沉默,下调或者抑制翻译以调节基因和蛋白的表达。心力衰竭进程中存在慢性炎症激活和microRNA的异常表达,其中TLR4通路和NF-κB通路被广泛研究和认同,炎症因子如IL-1、IL-6、TNF-α参与心力衰竭的炎症激活过程,并且可以通过多种通路导致心肌细胞肥大,纤维化及凋亡,炎症因子激活、炎症通路中间因子及疾病进展形成复杂的病理网络,最终导致心肌功能紊乱和减退;microRNA可通过部分结合mRNA靶定部分在转录水平上抑制蛋白合成,参与心力衰竭炎症通路的整个过程,这一调节机制在心肌肥大、心力衰竭等多种心脏疾病中的作用逐渐被阐明。本文旨在总结微小RNAs在心力衰竭炎症机制中作用的研究进展,寻找微小RNA与心力衰竭中炎症激活过程的联系。     

白蚁与动物及微生物的共生类型及其机制

综述了白蚁螱客的主要种类、共生关系及相关机制的研究进展。白蚁螱客中,已报道的动物种类达170种。在与动物的共生关系中存在偏利共生（宾主共栖和异种共栖）、互利共生和无关共生三种;在与微生物的共生关系中,存在与内生菌（原生动物、细菌、真菌和放线菌）和外生菌（蚁巢伞菌等）间的互利关系。指出了白蚁与螱客研究中存在的问题,给出了解决方案,并提出了今后可能的研究热点或方向,为白蚁的综合利用（如纤维素酶）及今后研究物种间的协同进化提供了基础资料。     

New amino-dithiaphospholanes and phosphoramidodithioites and their rhodium and iridium complexes

New sulfur derivatives of phosphoramidite ligands were synthesized and the impact of the sulfur unit on the spectroscopic properties of their rhodium and iridium complexes was investigated. The new ligands Bn₂NPSCH₂CH₂S^a(P-S^a) (Bn = benzyl, 4), Bn₂NPSCHCHS^a(CH₂)₃C^aH₂(P-S^a)(C^a-S^a) (6) and Bn₂NP(4-XC₆H₄OMe)₂ (X = S, 7a; X = O, 7b) were converted to the rhodium and iridium complexes trans-[Rh(CO)Cl(L)₂] (L = 4, 6, 7), [RhCl(COD)(L)] (L = 4, 6, 7), [IrCl(COD)(7a)] and [IrCl₂Cp∗(6)]. For comparison, some phosphoramidite complexes of these formulations also were synthesized. The new metal complexes were spectroscopically analyzed. For the carbonyl complexes, the ν_CO IR stretching frequencies were lower than for the corresponding phosphite and phosphoramidite ligands. The ¹J_PRh coupling constants for the rhodium complexes with the new ligands were also smaller than for the respective phosphoramidite and phosphite complexes. Finally, the ¹J_PSe coupling constants of the selenides of the new ligands were lower than those of the phosphoramidite ligands but higher than for PPh₃. The spectroscopic data reveal that the new thio ligands 4, 6 and 7a are more electron donating than phosphites and phosphoramidites but less electron donating than PPh₃.     

Astrocytes and Synaptosomes Transport and Metabolize Lactate and Acetate Differently

Astrocytes transport the monocarboxylate acetate, but synaptosomes do not. The reason for this is unknown, because both preparations express monocarboxylate transporters (MCT). The transport and metabolism of lactate, another monocarboxylate, was examined in these two preparations, and the results were compared to those for acetate. Lactate transport is more rapid in astrocytes than in synaptosomes, but of lower affinity (Kms of 17 and 4 mM, respectively). Lactate (0.2 mM) is metabolized to CO2 more rapidly in synaptosomes than in astrocytes (rates of 0.37 and 0.07 nmol x mg protein(-1) x min(-1), respectively). The reason for this is unclear, but cellular differences in lactate dehydrogenase isotype expression may be involved. Acetate is metabolized to CO2 more rapidly in astrocytes than in synaptosomes (rates of 0.43 and 0.02 nmol x mg protein(-1) x min(-1), respectively). This is likely due to cellular differences in the expression of monocarboxylate transporter subtypes.     

Rapporteur report: Basics and technology and metrology and standards

The first and second sessions of the Workshop focussed on the basics of ultrasound and infrasound, their applications in both industry and medicine, and metrology and protection standards for ultrasound applications.     

Relative and combined effects of ethanol and protein deficiency on strontium and barium bone content and fecal and urinary excretion

To elucidate accumulation of minerals in human iliac arteries with aging, the content of minerals was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Bilateral common, internal, and external iliac arteries of 16 men and 8 women, ranging ages from 65 to 93 yr, were examined. It was found that an extremely high accumulation of calcium and phosphorus occurred in the common iliac artery at old age, being higher than that of the internal and external iliac arteries. It should be noted that the accumulation of calcium and phosphorus is the highest in the common iliac artery among the human arteries examined to date. Regarding sexual differences, the content of calcium and phosphorus in the common and internal iliac arteries was higher in women than in men, whereas their content in the external iliac artery was lower in women than in men.     

Prostaglandin and thromboxane production by human and guinea-pig macrophages and leucocytes

The ability of partially purified human and guinea-pig haematogenous cell populations, when cultured in vitro, to metabolise arachidonic acid (AA) has been studied. Supernatants from 24 hour cell culture have been subjected to analysis for products of AA metabolism by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection.The cell types studied were human peripheral blood monocytes (both glass adherent and non-adherent), neutrophils, eosinophils and leukemic leucocytes; thoracic duct lymphocytes and lung alveolar macrophages. From the guinea-pig, induced and non-induced macrophage or neutrophil enriched peritoneal exudate populations, lymph node cells, peritoneal eosinophils and peripheral blood platelets were examined. Supernatants were assayed for the presence of PGE₂, PGD₂, PGF_2α, TXB₂ and 6-keto-PGF_1α. In all types studied PGE₂ and TXB₂ were the major products formed. The identification of PGE₂ and TXB₂ was confirmed by GC/MS with multiple ion monitoring.The results have been compared with other reports and their possible significance discussed in relation to the proposed role of prostaglandins as mediators and modulators in immunopathology.     

Chemokines and cytokines: axis and allies in asthma and allergy

Allergic asthma can be precipitated by many factors. For the atopic person, fungus, pollen, dust mites, cockroach antigens, and diesel exhaust are all agents that may trigger an allergic attack. Cytokines and chemokines are integral mediators of fungal asthma. From the earliest time points, they recruit and activate the cells required for the clearance of fungus as well as being critical factors involved in the immunopathology of this disease. In the final analysis, it is clear that these mediators can act to the benefit or the detriment of the host.     

Oxidation and nitration of ribonuclease and lysozyme by peroxynitrite and myeloperoxidase

In spite of the many studies on protein modifications by reactive species, knowledge about the products resulting from the oxidation of protein-aromatic residues, including protein-derived radicals and their stable products, remains limited. Here, we compared the oxidative modifications promoted by peroxynitrite and myeloperoxidase/hydrogen peroxide/nitrite in two model proteins, ribonuclease (6Tyr) and lysozyme (3Tyr/6Trp). The formation of protein-derived radicals and products was higher at pH 5.4 and 7.4 for myeloperoxidase and peroxynitrite, respectively. The main product was 3-nitro-Tyr for both proteins and oxidants. Lysozyme rendered similar yields of nitro-Trp, particularly when oxidized by peroxynitrite. Hydroxylated and dimerized products of Trp and Tyr were also produced, but in lower yields. Localization of the main modified residues indicates that peroxynitrite decomposes to radicals within the proteins behaving less specifically than myeloperoxidase. Nitrogen dioxide is emphasized as an important protein modifier.