结缔组织生长因子在血吸虫病肝纤维化鼠肝窦内皮细胞中的表达及意义

目的:动态观察结缔组织生长因子(CTGF)蛋白在血吸虫病肝纤维化鼠肝窦内皮细胞表达水平的时相变化,探讨其与肝窦内皮细胞下基底膜形成的关系。方法:采用腹部敷贴法建立血吸虫病肝纤维化模型,HE、Masson染色和透射电镜观察其病理变化;免疫组化技术检测CTGF、Ⅳ型胶原(ColⅣ)和层粘连蛋白(LN)在小鼠肝脏组织中的表达和分布;并应用彩色图像分析仪进行定量分析。结果:与正常对照组比较,模型组鼠肝窦内皮细胞表达CTGF蛋白阳性或强阳性,肝窦壁LN、ColⅣ表达水平增高,且随着肝纤维化的发展,CTGF和LN、ColⅣ表达逐渐增强,肝窦内皮下基底膜逐渐增厚。图像定量分析两组平均吸光度值、平均灰度值和阳性面积比具有统计学差异;CTGF蛋白与LN、ColⅣ水平呈正相关。结论:血吸虫病肝纤维化时小鼠肝窦内皮细胞通过CTGF蛋白表达上调,调控细胞外基质产生,导致ColⅣ、LN分泌增加,参与肝窦内皮下基底膜形成,从而引起肝内微循环障碍。     

硫化氢对体外大鼠肝星状细胞内Ca2+浓度变化及细胞增殖的影响

目的 研究硫化氢(H₂ S)对大鼠肝星状细胞-T6(HSC-T6) Ca²⁺浓度、细胞增殖的影响及其机制。 方法 活化HSC-T6用含10%小牛血清DMEM培养液制备为1×10⁵个肝星状细胞(HSC)悬液。钙离子荧光探针Fluo-3/AM负载细胞后，在不同刺激条件下，利用激光扫描共焦显微镜动态扫描HSC-T6细胞内Ca²⁺荧光强度（FI）变化，FI表示细胞内Ca²⁺浓度。四唑盐比色法，观察不同浓度H₂S供体——NaSH对HSC-T6细胞增殖的影响。 结果 低浓度H₂S（100μmol/L）明显降低HSC-T6细胞内Ca²⁺浓度（P<0.05)，而细胞增殖增加（增殖率为116%）；K_ATP通道阻断剂——格列本脲可阻断H2S的作用。高浓度H₂S（1mmol/L）刺激HSC-T6细胞内Ca₂₊浓度增加，但细胞增殖无明显变化(P＞0.05)。 结论 低浓度H₂S通过激活HSC-T6细胞K_ATP通道降低细胞内Ca²⁺浓度，可能通过调节细胞氧化应激促进细胞增殖；高浓度H2S刺激HSC-T6细胞内Ca₂₊浓度增加。提示H₂S在肝硬化门脉高压症的发生机制中具有双重作用。     

肝门阻断和再开放对兔胰腺功能的影响

目的：观察肝门阻断（HVO）及再开放（HVR）后胰腺内外分泌功能的改变。方法：选择健康日本大耳白兔25只，体重2.3-3.0 kg，分别于HVO前、HVO 10、20 min及HVR后（10、30、60、120 min）不同时点取血，并在HVO前、HVO 20 min、HVR后120 min 3个时点取胰腺组织，电镜下观察其超微结构的变化。结果：HVO时，血浆葡萄糖、胰岛素水平及一氧化氮代谢产物（NO₂^-/NO₃^-）含量均明显低于阻断前，胰高血糖素/胰岛素及丙二醛（MDA）浓度显著高于阻断前（P<0.05或P<0.01），并随阻断时间延长而加重；血浆淀粉酶、脂肪酶、游离脂肪酸水平则无明显差异（P>0.05）；胰岛细胞的线粒体肿胀、粗面内质网扩张，细胞核形态、结构基本正常，而胰腺腺泡细胞变化则不明显。HVR后上述差异逐渐不明显，至120min才接近阻断前水平。结论：急性肝门阻断和再开放对胰腺内分泌功能有较大的影响。     

精-甘-天冬-丝氨酸4肽对肝星状细胞增殖及凋亡的影响

目的: 探讨精-甘-天冬-丝氨酸(RGDS) 4肽对纤维连接蛋白(FN)刺激的肝星状细胞(HSCs)增殖、凋亡及caspase-3表达的影响。方法: 应用体外HSCs培养技术, 采用[³H]-胸腺嘧啶核苷([³H]-TdR)掺入法测定HSCs增殖;膜联蛋白(Annexin-V)/碘化丙啶(PI)双标记流式细胞术、TUNEL、扫描电镜及透射电镜等方法测定HSCs凋亡;采用甲苯胺兰染色方法测定细胞粘附率;应用流式细胞方法测定caspase-3蛋白表达。结果: ①25 mg·L^-1、50mg·L^-1、100mg·L^-1浓度RGDS 4肽剂量、时间依赖性抑制HSCs增殖, P＜0.01。②RGDS 4肽对HSCs凋亡的诱导作用亦呈剂量和时间依赖关系, P＜0.01。扫描电镜、透射电镜观察, RGDS 4肽组出现典型的凋亡征象。③RGDS 4肽作用于HSCs 2 h, 25 mg·L^-1、50mg·L^-1、100mg·L^-1组粘附抑制率分别是8.82%、29.41%、45.59%, 而RGES 4肽组的粘附抑制率仅为4.41%, P＜0.01。④RGDS 4肽处理组caspase-3表达明显高于FN、RGES 4肽组。结论: RGDS 4肽剂量和时间依赖性抑制HSCs增殖并诱导其凋亡。RGDS 4肽抑制增殖及诱导凋亡效应, 依赖于caspase-3, 也与其抗粘附作用有关。     

Expression of mRNAs related to connective tissue metabolism in rat hepatic stellate cells and myofibroblasts

Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and liver myofibroblasts (MFB) are two cell populations most likely responsible for the synthesis of most connective tissue components in fibrotic liver. They differ in their origin and location, and possibly in patterns of gene expression. Normal and carbon tetrachloride-cirrhotic livers from rats were used to isolate HSC. Liver was perfused with pronase and collagenase solutions, followed by centrifugation of the cell suspension on a density gradient. HSC were quiescent 2 days after plating on plastic but they became activated after another 5 days in culture. When the culture was passaged 5 times, its character changed profoundly as HSC were replaced by MFB. Microarray analysis was used to determine gene expression in quiescent HSC, activated HSC and MFB. The expression of 49 genes coding for connective tissue proteins, proteoglycans, metalloproteinases and their inhibitors, growth factors and cellular markers was determined. The pattern of gene expression changed during HSC activation and there were distinct differences between HSC and MFB. Little difference between normal cells and cells isolated from cirrhotic liver was found.     

Hepatic angiomyolipoma and hepatic stellate cells share a similar gene expression profile

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Angiomyolipomas (AMLs) of the liver are rare neoplasms composed of large epithelioid cells with intermixed fat and blood vessels. Hepatic AMLs have no clear normal-cell counterpart in the liver. However, AMLs and stellate cells both are positive for neural crest-derived markers including HMB-45 antigen. METHODS: To further explore the similarities between hepatic AMLs and stellate cells, gene expression of a hepatic AML was studied by cDNA microarray. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to confirm gene expression. Hepatic stellate cells can be quiescent, activated, or have a myofibroblastic phenotype depending on their state of activation. Expression of known markers of activated stellate cells was compared between the AML, activated primary mouse stellate cells, and stellate cell lines with activated and myofibroblastic phenotypes. Next, 5 novel genes from the AML were selected because they were not previously known to be markers of stellate cells and mRNA expression measured in the activated mouse stellate cells and in myofibroblastic stellate cell lines. Finally, expression levels of 10 novel genes were determined in 5 cirrhotic and 5 noncirrhotic human livers. RESULTS: Overexpression of known markers of activated stellate cells including transforming growth factor beta (TGF- beta ), smooth muscle actin, and collagen was found in the hepatic AML. Three of 5 novel markers that were identified in the AML, RRAD (Ras-related associated with diabetes), CTSK (cathepsin K), and NIBAN were also found to be overexpressed in activated stellate cells compared with quiescent or myofibroblastic stellate cells. In addition, 9 of 10 novel genes overexpressed in AML were also overexpressed in cirrhotic human livers versus noncirrhotic livers. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic AMLs share a similar gene expression profile and may differentiate toward activated stellate cells.     

The role of the splanchnic circulation in the regulation of total intravascular volume during alpha adrenergic receptor stimulation

Previous studies have not defined the contribution of the splanchnic circulation to the total intravascular volume change associated with selective alpha adrenergic receptor stimulation. Since the splanchnic circulation is responsible for the total volume changes associated with other types of selective autonomic receptor stimulation, the present study was undertaken to examine the influence of alpha adrenergic receptor stimulation on splanchnic intravascular volume, the hemodynamic mechanism responsible for the splanchnic volume change, and the contribution of the splanchnic volume change to the change in total volume. In 35 anesthetized dogs, blood from the vena cavae was drained into an extracorporeal reservoir and returned to the right atrium at a constant rate so that changes in total intravascular volume could be measured as reciprocal changes in reservoir volume. Phenylephrine infusion (100 g/min) for 20 min in 28 dogs was associated with a decrease in total volume of 64±17 (SEM) ml (P<0.0001). The response was abolished by either alpha adrenergic blockade or evisceration but was not attenuated by beta adrenergic blockade, sinoaortic baroreceptor denervation, ganglionic blockade, or splenectomy. In 5 animals with separate splanchnic perfusion and drainage, total and splanchnic volumes decreased 59±8 ml (P<0.0001) and 317±20 ml (P<0.0001), respectively, while transhepatic vascular resistance increased 17±4 cm H₂O·min/l (P<0.0001). These responses were abolished after alpha adrenergic blockade. Thus, splanchnic volume decreases with alpha adrenergic receptor stimulation, despite an increase in hepatic resistance to splanchnic, venous outflow. The splanchnic volume decrement is entirely responsible for the total volume decrement.The study was supported by NHLBI Grant 1 R23-HL27185, Grant 11-203-812 from the American Heart Association of Greater Hartford, Inc., and the Duberg Cardiovascular Research Fund. Dr. Rutlen was the Duberg Scholar in Cardiovascular Disease when the study was performed.This work was presented in part at the 1982 Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association (Circ. 66:II-311)     

Assessment of donor liver steatosis: pathologist or automated software?

Steatosis in donor liver biopsy specimens has been shown to correlate with graft dysfunction after orthotopic liver transplantation. This 2-part (laboratory pilot, clinical retrospective) study compared the traditional interpretation of steatosis by a pathologist with an automated measurement determined by an image analysis system. In our pilot study, Sprague-Dawley rats were studied prospectively by feeding them a choline-deficient diet for up to 7 days. In our clinical group, data from 49 consecutive recipients of cadaveric liver transplantation were reviewed retrospectively. In both studies, the percentages of microvesicular fat, macrovesicular fat, and total fat content within liver biopsy specimens were determined by an automated image analysis software program and a pathologist using the same set of slides. The association between fat content of the donor liver and patient survival and graft survival, along with levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, prothrombin time, and total bilirubin after transplantation, were also examined in the clinical study. A direct correlation was observed between levels of macrovesicular fat determined by a pathologist and the automated software using livers from rats fed a choline-deficient diet and livers from deceased donors. A significant association was observed between macrovesicular fat content in the donor liver biopsy and graft survival by both techniques. We conclude that an image analysis system can be used to automate the determination of fat content in liver biopsy specimens, and that its findings correlate with both the visual interpretation by a pathologist and graft survival. Further study is needed to determine the role of an automated technique in the evaluation of donor livers for transplantation.     

Kinetics of hepatic transport of 4-methylumbelliferone in rats. Analysis by multiple indicator dilution method

Hepatic elimination of 4-methylumbelliferone (4MU), which has been used as a model compound for conjugative metabolism, was studied by means of a multiple indicator dilution (MID) method in the isolated perfused rat liver. Using this method, three intrinsic hepatic clearances, CL _int,inf , CL _{int,eff, and} CL _{int,seq, which represent the influx, efflux, and sequestration processes, respectively, were obtained. When the dose was increased from a low dose (50 g/rat liver) to a high dose (3000 g/rat liver), the hepatic availability of 4MU increased from 0.11 to 0.73. With increasing dose, the} CL _{int,eff value increased approximately two times, while the} CL _{int,seq value decreased to approximately one-third. The remarkable dose dependence of hepatic availability was due to nonlinearity in both} CL _{int,eff and} CL _{int,seq values. However, the} CL_int,inf value was almost independent of dose. The dose-dependent change in CL_int,seq might be explained by the saturation of conjugative metabolism of 4-MU, while the increase in the CL _{int,eff value with increasing dose might be partly explained by the nonlinear tissue binding of 4-MU, since the tissue unbound fraction determined by an ultrafiltration method using liver homogenate increased approximately 1.5 times at higher concentration of 4-MU compared to that at lower concentrations. In addition, based on a comparison of the individual intrinsic clearances, i.e.}, CL _int,inf , CL _{int,eff, and} CL _{int,seq, the major determining process of the apparent hepatic intrinsic clearance of 4MU is thought to be the sequestration process at the high dose. However, at the low dose, the membrane transport process (influx and efflux processes) as well as the sequestration process also determine the apparent hepatic intrinsic clearance}.     

Artificial Liver: Present and Future

Early in 1956, the first model of a biological artificial liver, using a live dog's liver incorporated in a cross-hemodialyzer, was placed in an experimental animal with portocaval encephalopathy. This "biological artificial liver," a hybrid artificial liver in the present terminology, was the first in the world. In October 1958, the first human patient, a young male patient in hepatic coma due to liver cirrhosis, was placed on the laboratory-made biological artificial liver composed of four parabiotic cross-hemodialyzers connected with four live dogs' livers to which the "hepatic reactors" for ammonium adsorption and acid-base balance were additionally equipped. This first case was very successful, resulting in the patient's recovery from coma. This article introduces the past history of the artificial liver, research of which has mainly been conducted in Japan since the early 1950s by the author, M. Mito, and Y. Nosé. Until recently, little progress has been made in this field through the application of blood purification principles such as hemoadsorption, plasmapheresis, and other modifications and combinations. Accumulation of clinical experiences with such conventional methods has stimulated the third generation of the artificial liver to a return to a hybrid organ applying modern science and technology. A concept of hybrid organs in comparison with organ transplants is introduced. The Japanese national project of developing a new artificial liver system, as conducted by the author as the chairman and his associates, is introduced.