永生化猪肝细胞的建立及其鉴定

目的 建立永生化的猪肝细胞系,为生物人工肝、肝细胞移植、体外药物代谢模型提供合适的细胞源.方法 应用胶原酶等四步灌流法分离获得原代猪肝细胞,以SV40大T抗原(SV40LT)和含人端粒酶反转酶(hTERT)的重组反转录病毒感染,对其进行永生化;然后,对建立的猪肝细胞系进行生物学特性鉴定.结果 原代猪肝细胞经转染含人端粒酶反转录酶和SV40大T抗原的重组反转录病毒后4～6周获得三个肝细胞样细胞克隆,其中,一个猪肝细胞克隆(HepLP)传代60代以上;永生化猪肝细胞在相差显微镜、扫描电镜和透射电镜下具有典型的肝细胞的形态;Western印迹法检测该细胞系表达人端粒酶反转录酶和SV40大T抗原.RT-PCR检测到永生化猪肝细胞表达白蛋白mRNA、ELISA双抗体夹心法检测到永生化猪肝细胞培养上清液中白蛋白的分泌,以5.0×106细胞数接种裸鼠,观察6个月无肿瘤形成.结论 新建立的无致瘤性的永生化猪肝细胞系具有正常猪肝细胞的生物学基本功能.     

Cryopreserved mouse hepatocytes retain regenerative capacity in vivo

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Substitution of hepatocyte transplantation for whole liver transplants in selected individuals with liver disease could significantly expand the number of patients to benefit from use of scarce donor livers. However, successful hepatocyte transplantation may require that donor cells retain normal functional and proliferative capabilities and that they be readily available. Banking of cryopreserved hepatocytes would fulfill the latter requirement. Cryopreservation protocols have been developed that minimize hepatocyte injury and allow preservation of metabolic activity. The aim of this study was to assess cryopreserved hepatocyte proliferative capacity in vivo after thawing. METHODS: Fresh and frozen/thawed mouse hepatocytes were transferred separately into the livers of recipient mice with transgene-induced liver disease, an environment that is permissive for clonal expansion of donor cell populations. Fresh and cryopreserved donor cells were compared for their ability to proliferate and replace damaged parenchyma. RESULTS: Although cryopreservation decreased hepatocyte viability, individual viable frozen/thawed hepatocytes demonstrated clonal replicative potential identical to that of fresh hepatocytes. Even after storage for 32 months in liquid nitrogen, transplanted hepatocytes constituting 0.1% of total adult hepatocyte number could repopulate a mean of 32% of recipient liver parenchyma. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that cryopreserved hepatocytes represent an appropriate source of cells for therapeutic hepatocyte transplantation.     

抗小鼠Caspase-12小干扰RNA对肝细胞凋亡的抑制作用

目的观察抗小鼠Caspase-12小干扰RNA（siRNA）对小鼠原代肝细胞凋亡的抑制作用。方法原位二步灌流法分离并培养Balb／c小鼠原代肝细胞，化学合成制备三种抗Caspase-12不同位点（130，214，521）的SiRNA，脂质体包裹转染小鼠原代肝细胞。毒胡萝卜素4μmol／L诱导肝细胞凋亡。逆转录聚合酶链反应、Westeril blot检测抑制效果；四甲基偶氮唑盐法检测对细胞凋亡的影响。结果在浓度为100nmol／L时。siRNA（130）对小鼠原代肝细胞Caspase-12 mRNA的抑制率为0，siRNA（214）为52．08％，siRNA（521）为30．73％（t=4．30，P〈0．05）；在浓度为200nmol／L时，三种siRNA的抑制率分别为88．07％、86．22％，89．41％。200nmol／L的siRNA（214）对凋亡细胞procaspase-12的抑制率为51．43％（f=4．30，P〈0．01）；MTT比色实验发现，凋亡细胞活力增高48．76％（f=2．23，P〈0．01）。结论抗Caspase-12 siRNA对小鼠原代肝细胞凋亡有一定的抑制作用。     

Animal model for liver cell banking from non-heart beating donors after prolonged ischaemia time

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Although there is a growing interest on the use of non-heart beating donors to enlarge the liver donor pool, livers with prolonged warm ischaemia time are not currently considered for organ transplantation. We hypothesised that these organs may represent a source of hepatocytes for cell transplantation and/or use in bioartificial liver devices. Thus, we investigated if prolonged ischaemia could influence the recovery and viability of functional hepatocytes dissociated from rat livers. METHODS: Hepatocytes were isolated from the liver within 15 min after death (t=15 min) and after 4, 8 and 12h of ischaemia. Cells were either maintained in culture or cryopreserved. In all products, we evaluated cell recovery and viability, hepatocyte markers and cellular functions, including albumin and urea production. RESULTS: The number of cells per gram of tissue was similar at 15 min, 4 and 8h, while it was significantly decreased at 12h. About 0.2 x 10(6) viable cells expressing hepatocyte markers and producing albumin and urea were isolated up to 8h of ischaemia per gram of tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Recovery of viable and functional hepatocytes seems possible after prolonged ischaemia time. These data warrant the evaluation of hepatocyte isolation from human livers of non-heart beating donors.     

Effects of plasma from patients with fulminant hepatic failure on function of primary rat hepatocytes in three-dimensional culture.

BACKGROUND/AIM: As biotechnology continues to advance, a bioartificial liver is expected to be developed for the treatment of patients with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) whose liver dysfunction is potentially reversible or for providing liver support as a bridge to liver transplantation. While monolayer-cultured hepatocytes rapidly lose their capacity to express many liver-specific functions over time when cultured, spherical-shaped hepatocytes in three-dimensional culture with the use of extracellular matrix components sustain long-term survival by maintaining differentiated hepatocyte functions. The aim of this study was to investigate whether sufficient functions of viable spherical-shaped hepatocytes could be maintained in plasma of patients with FHF in order to use these cells in an extracorporeal system. METHODS: Hepatocyte functions were evaluated under monolayer or three-dimensional culture in FHF plasma. RESULTS: Primary rat hepatocytes on poly-N-p-vinylbenzyl-D-lactonamide (PVLA) formed spheroids even in FHF plasma and maintained their spherical shapes in FHF plasma as long as in medium. Spherical-shaped hepatocytes on PVLA cultured in FHF plasma showed higher activity in albumin secretion, urea formation, and gluconeogenesis than those in normal human plasma or medium. As being cultured in medium, hepatocytes on PVLA cultured in plasma were also superior to cells on collagen in regard to albumin secretion, amino acid metabolism, and gluconeogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrated that FHF plasma is not toxic to rat hepatocyte spheroids and that hepatocyte spheroids have potential use in the development of a bioartificial liver.     

重组人内皮抑素腺病毒抑制肝癌裸鼠移植瘤生长

目的 观察重组人内皮抑素腺病毒(Ad/hEndo)对人肝癌裸鼠移植瘤生长的影响。方法 人脐静脉内皮细胞ECV-304经Ad/hEndo感染后,western印迹检测人内皮抑素的表达。人肝癌BEL-7402细胞移植到裸鼠背脊部后,检测Ad/hEndo对肝癌移植瘤生长的抑制作用。逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)检测肿瘤组织中内皮抑素mRNA的表达。分析人内皮抑素在裸鼠体内的表达分布。结果 Western印迹检测到人内皮抑素基因在ECV-304细胞内高效表达。Ad/hEndo明显抑制人肝癌BEL-7402裸鼠移植瘤生长(F=4.061,P<0.05)。Ad/hEndo组血管密度计数为6.88±1.08,DMEM组为13.60±1.71(t=9.216,P<0.01)。瘤内注射Ad/hEndo后3d,RT-PCR在肿瘤组织检测到内皮抑素mRNA的表达,7d后表达不明显。人内皮抑素蛋白主要分布在肿瘤组织。结论 腺病毒介导的人内皮抑素基因在体内、体外获得高效表达,并明显抑制肝癌裸鼠移植瘤的生长与血管生成。     

Distribution and isoforms of epimorphin in carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury in mice

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Epimorphin, a morphoregulatory factor essential to organ development, is believed to direct normal morphogenesis in tissue repair. We examined the dynamics and the roles of epimorphin, a cell surface-associated molecule detected on mesenchymal cells, in hepatic tissue repair from acute liver injury. METHODS: After acute liver injury was induced by carbon tetrachloride in Balb/c mice, the distribution of epimorphin-expressing cells was studied immunohistochemically. To clarify interactions between epimorphin expression and hepatocyte behavior, epimorphin-expressing cells and proliferating hepatocytes were counted. Then, epimorphin quantity and isoforms were assessed by western blotting. To better understand effects of epimorphin, we cultured rat hepatocytes in its presence. RESULTS: Epimorphin was distributed in relation to sinusoids, portal veins, central veins and granulomas, expressed in stellate cells and myofibroblasts. In the periportal zone, the expression in sinusoids was decreased at 24 h but increased on day 7 after carbon tetrachloride administration. Numbers of epimorphin-expressing cells and proliferating hepatocytes changed in an inverse manner as time progressed. In the pericentral zone, reactivity for epimorphin was markedly enhanced concurrently with appearance of granulomas. Quantities of 34-kDa isoform paralleled epimorphin-staining intensity. In vitro, epimorphin induced spherical hepatocyte aggregates and maintained differentiated hepatocyte function. CONCLUSIONS: Epimorphin is involved in tissue repair following a single injection of carbon tetrachloride, in which distribution and the quantity of epimorphin expression are important, particularly in maintaining hepatocyte function.     

Rapid hepatic fate specification of adipose-derived stem cells and their therapeutic potential for liver failure

Background and Aim:  Multipotential mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), present in many organs and tissues, represent an attractive tool for the establishment of a successful stem cell-based therapy in the field of regeneration medicine. Adipose tissue mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSC), known as adipose-derived stem cells (ASC) are especially attractive in the context of future clinical applications because of their high accessibility and minimal invasiveness during the procedure to obtain them. The goal of the present study was to induce human ASC into functional hepatocytes in vitro within a very short period of time and to check their therapeutic potential in vivo .
Methods:  In vitro generated ASC-derived hepatocytes were checked for hepatocyte-specific markers and functions. Afterwards, they were transplanted into nude mice with liver injury. Twenty-four hours after transplantation, biochemical parameters were evaluated in blood serum.
Results:  We have shown here that ASC can be differentiated into hepatocytes within 13 days and can reach the functional properties of primary human hepatocytes. After transplantation into mice with acute liver failure, ASC-derived hepatocytes can restore such liver functions as ammonia and purine metabolism. Markers of liver injury, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, as well as ammonia, were decreased after ASC-derived hepatocyte transplantation.
Conclusions:  Our data highlight the properties of ASC as having a special affinity for hepatocyte differentiation in vitro and liver regeneration in vivo . Thus, ASC may be a superior choice for the establishment of a therapy for injured liver.     

应用免疫磁性分离技术检测小细胞肺癌循环癌细胞的实验研究

目的 在免疫磁性细胞分离技术的基础上探索一种能检测小细胞肺癌循环癌细胞敏感而有效的方法。方法 将微量小细胞肺癌细胞按比例加入到外周血单个核细胞悬液中混匀，再通过特异性单抗包被的免疫磁性微珠吸附，富集，免疫细胞化学鉴定，计算癌细胞的回收率和检测敏感性。结果 免疫磁性微珠与小细胞肺癌能敏感而特异地结合。与免疫细胞化学方法结合可检出45．6％混入外周血单个核细胞中的微量癌细胞。未有假阳性。应用此种方法，每5ml外周血单个核细胞悬液中含有5个癌细胞阳性率可达4／5。结论 免疫磁性细胞分离技术是一项检测外周血中循环癌细胞的有效技术，将来可能具有较高的临床价值。     

Hepatocyte transplantation program: Lessons learned and future strategies

This review aims to share the lessons we learned over time during the setting of the hepatocyte transplantation(HT) program at the Hepatic Cell Therapy Unit at Hospital La Fe in Valencia. New sources of liver tissue for hepatocyte isolation have been explored. The hepatocyte isolation and cryopreservation procedures have been optimized and quality criteria for assessment of functionality of hepatocyte preparations and suitability for HT have been established. The results indicate that:(1) Only highly viable and functional hepatocytes allow to recover those functions lacking in the native liver;(2) Organs with steatosis(≥ 40%) and from elderly donors are declined since low hepatocyte yields, viability and cell survival after cryopreservation, are obtained;(3) Neonatal hepatocytes are cryopreserved without significant loss of viability or function representing high-quality cells to improve human HT;(4) Cryopreservation has the advantage of providing hepatocytes constantly available and of allowing the quality evaluation and suitability for transplantation; and(5) Our results from 5 adults with acute liver failure and 4 from children with inborn metabolic diseases, indicate that HT could be a veryuseful and safe cell therapy, as long as viable and metabolically functional human hepatocytes are used.     

RB loss abrogates cell cycle control and genome integrity to promote liver tumorigenesis

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The retinoblastoma (RB) tumor suppressor is functionally inactivated in most hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC), although the mechanisms by which RB suppresses liver tumorigenesis are poorly defined. We investigated the impact of RB loss on carcinogen-induced liver tumorigenesis. METHODS: Mice harboring liver-specific RB ablation and normal littermates were exposed to the hepatocarcinogen diethylnitrosamine (DEN). The influence of RB loss on liver tumorigenesis was assessed by evaluating tumor multiplicity, proliferation, and genome integrity within tumors arising in RB-deficient and wild-type livers. In silico analyses were used to probe the association between gene expression signatures for RB loss and chromosomal instability and the ability of genes up-regulated by RB loss to predict the survival of human HCC patients. RESULTS: RB deficiency significantly increased tumor multiplicity in livers exposed to DEN. Although hepatocytes in nontumor regions of DEN-exposed livers were quiescent regardless of RB status, tumors arising in RB-deficient livers were significantly more proliferative than those in normal livers and expressed high levels of RB/E2F target genes. Analysis of genes up-regulated by RB loss demonstrated significant overlap with a gene expression signature associated with chromosomal instability. Correspondingly, tumors arising in RB-deficient livers were significantly more likely to harbor hepatocytes exhibiting altered ploidy. Finally, gene expression analysis of human HCCs demonstrated that elevated expression of RB-regulated genes independently predicts poor survival. CONCLUSIONS: RB deletion in the mouse liver enhances DEN-induced tumorigenesis, associated with increased hepatocyte proliferation and compromised genome integrity. Evaluation of RB status may be a useful prognostic factor in human HCC.     

Severe necroinflammatory reaction caused by natural killer cell-mediated Fas/Fas ligand interaction and dendritic cells in human hepatocyte chimeric mouse

The necroinflammatory reaction plays a central role in hepatitis B virus (HBV) elimination. Cluster of differentiation (CD)8-positive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are thought to be a main player in the elimination of infected cells, and a recent report suggests that natural killer (NK) cells also play an important role. Here, we demonstrate the elimination of HBV-infected hepatocytes by NK cells and dendritic cells (DCs) using urokinase-type plasminogen activator/severe combined immunodeficiency mice, in which the livers were highly repopulated with human hepatocytes. After establishing HBV infection, we injected human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) into the mice and analyzed liver pathology and infiltrating human immune cells with flow cytometry. Severe hepatocyte degeneration was observed only in HBV-infected mice transplanted with human PBMCs. We provide the first direct evidence that massive liver cell death can be caused by Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) interaction provided by NK cells activated by DCs. Treatment of mice with anti-Fas antibody completely prevented severe hepatocyte degeneration. Furthermore, severe hepatocyte death can be prevented by depletion of DCs, whereas depletion of CD8-positive CTLs did not disturb the development of massive liver cell apoptosis. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide the first direct evidence that DC-activated NK cells induce massive HBV-infected hepatocyte degeneration through the Fas/FasL system and may indicate new therapeutic implications for acute severe/fulminant hepatitis B.     

Epimorphin, a morphogenic protein, induces proteases in rodent hepatocytes through NF-kappaB

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Epimorphin, expressed by hepatic stellate cells in the liver, directs normal morphogenesis in various organs. The aim of this study was to clarify the mechanism by which epimorphin functions as a morphogen in vitro. METHODS: Male Balb/c mice and Sprague-Dawley rats were used. First, we explored the relationship between epimorphin expression and distribution of protease-positive cells in carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury. We then examined protease levels in cultured hepatocytes and signal transduction of epimorphin. Finally, we determined the requirement for proteases and NF-kappaB in spheroid formation induced by epimorphin. RESULTS: Epimorphin expression was enhanced in injured areas during late recovery phase, in which protease-positive hepatocytes were localized adjacent to epimorphin-expressing cells. In vitro, epimorphin induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 9, MMP 3 and urokinase type plasminogen activator (uPA) in hepatocytes. NF-kappaB mediated these protease expressions in hepatocytes. These proteases were required for epimorphin-induced and Matrigel induced spheroid. An epimorphin-neutralizing antibody also blocked spheroid formation on Matrigel, which contained epimorphin. In addition, NF-kappaB activation was also required for spheroid formation. CONCLUSION: Epimorphin elicits hepatocyte spheroids by inducing proteases in rodent hepatocytes through NF-kappaB.     

Vascular endothelial growth factor reduces Fas-mediated acute liver injury in mice

Background and Aim:  Fulminant hepatitis is still a fatal liver disease, and no specific treatment for it has been available. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the focus of attention because of its various actions. We investigated the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on Fas-induced fulminant hepatic failure (FHF).
Method:  Male Balb/c mice were treated with an intraperitoneal injection of an anti-Fas antibody (Jo-2 Ab) with or without premedication with intraperitoneally administered human recombinant VEGF.
Results:  The serum level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was up to 300 times higher that of normal mice following the Jo-2 Ab injection, and histological analysis revealed hepatic injury and massive hepatocyte apoptosis. The VEGF significantly suppressed an elevation in serum ALT levels and hepatocyte apoptosis. Immunohistochemically, VEGF-treated mice showed that Bcl-xL in hepatocytes was strongly expressed.
Conclusions:  Since hepatocytes do not express VEGF receptors, we speculated that VEGF acts on sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs) and promotes production of cytokines such as hepatocyte growth factor in SECs, resulting in reducing apoptosis through an increase expression of Bcl-xL in hepatocytes. We suggest that VEGF has a potent antiapoptotic effect on hepatocytes through cell–cell interaction between SECs and hepatocytes.