Phenotypic modulation in lipocytes in experimental liver fibrosis

The presence of a-smooth muscle actin (smA)-positive cells has recently been reported in the fibrotic liver. Lipocytes have been considered to play important roles in hepatic fibrosis. However, the relation of the a-smA-positive cells and lipocytes has not been determined. The biological implication of a-smA expression remains unknown. To study these questions, we carried out double immunofluorescent staining of a-smA and desmin (a marker for lipocytes), or a-smA and collagen, and double immunohistochemical staining of a-smA and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdUrd) in carbon tetrachloride-induced fibrotic rat livers. In normal and control livers, a-smA-positive cells were not seen in the lobules, whereas scattered desmin-positive cells were present. With the development of hepatic fibrosis, a-smA was expressed only in a portion of desmin-positive cells located predominantly around collagen bundles. A number of a-smA-positive cells in the lobules were labelled with BrdUrd. These results suggest phenotypic modulation in lipocytes and differentiation of lipocytes towards myofibroblast-like cells, since a-smA is expressed with desmin in myofibroblasts in scar tissue. The expression of a-smA may be related to events of the fibrotic process, such as tissue contraction or fibrogenesis per se.     

miR-29b介导的TGF-β/Smad信号通路对大鼠肝纤维化进程的影响

目的:初步研究微小RNA-29b(mi R-29b)介导的TGF-β/Smad信号通路在肝星状细胞(HSC)活化中的作用及其对大鼠肝纤维化进程的影响。方法:构建肝纤维化大鼠模型并分离其HSC,同时通过体外获取并鉴定正常大鼠HSC。运用RT-qPCR和Western blot检测以上获取细胞中mi R-29b、TGF-β/Smad信号通路相关蛋白和肝纤维化标志蛋白的变化水平,并通过双萤光素酶报告基因检测系统鉴定mi R-29b对TGF-β1的直接靶向结合情况。结果:随着HSC活化加深,mi R-29b的表达量逐渐减少(P 0. 01),而HSC活性标志物I型胶原蛋白和α-平滑肌肌动蛋白的表达量逐渐增加(P 0. 01)。在TGF-β/Smad信号通路中,Smad2/3/4的表达显著增加,而Smad7的表达明显下降(P 0. 01)。双萤光素酶报告基因检测结果显示,mi R-29b可直接结合于TGF-β1 3’UTR的"UCUCUCCGU"序列,表明TGF-β1为mi R-29b的一个下游靶基因。结论:mi R-29b可参与抑制HSC的活化和迁移,进而抑制肝纤维化进程,而其生物学功能可能是通过直接靶向抑制TGF-β1进而调控TGF-β/Smad信号通路实现的。     

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。     

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.     

JNK信号转导通路对白细胞介素-1β促肝星状细胞增殖的调控作用

目的：探讨JNK信号转导通路在白细胞介素- 1β（IL-1β）介导的促肝星状细胞（HSCs）增殖中的作用。方法:应用 Western印迹法检测JNK的活化程度。应用活细胞计数试剂盒-CCK-8检测HSCs增殖并观察JNK 特异性阻断剂SP600125对IL-1β促HSCs增殖的影响。结果：IL-1β有明 显促大鼠HSCs增殖作用，而经JNK特异性阻断剂 SP600125预处理后，IL-1β促HSCs增殖作用 受到抑制（1.560±0.110 vs 1.427±0.113，P<0.05）。IL-1β以时间依赖 方式激活JNK。IL-1β作用HSCs后0、5、15、30、60和120 min，JNK 活性分别为0.982±0 .299、1.501±0.720、2.133±0.882、3.360±0.452、2.181±0.789、1.385±0 .368。结论:IL-1β可刺激HSCs增殖，细胞内JNK信号转导通路参与了 IL-1β促HSCs增殖作用。     

肝星形细胞表达转化生长因子α与成纤维细胞生长因子

目的 研究肝星形细胞（ＨＳＣ）转化生长因子α（ＦＧＦα）与成纤维细胞生长因子（ａＦＧＦ）的表达。方法 分别从正常与ＣＣＬ４肝纤维化大鼠肝脏分离ＨＳＣ,提取ＲＮＡ,用ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ测定ＴＧＦα和ａＦＧＦｍＲＮＡ。结果 正常ＨＳＣ表达ＴＧＦα和ａＦＧＦ,肝纤维化时ＴＧＦα与ａＦＧＦｍＲＮＡ水平均显著升高（Ｐ〈０．０５）。结论 ＨＳＣ自分泌ＴＧＦα和ａＦＧＦ,对肝纤维化具有重要促进作用。     

苦参素对肝星状细胞增殖及I型胶原合成的影响

目的：研究苦参素对肝星状细胞增殖及I型胶原合成的影响，阐明其抗肝纤维化的作用机制。方法：采用袁桃霞等的肝星状细胞的分离方法和MTT法（甲基噻唑基四唑，metyl thiazolyl tetronzolium）及ABC免疫酶染色方法分别检测肝星状细胞增殖及I型胶原合成的影响。结果：苦参素能明显抑制肝星状细胞的增殖及I型胶原的合成，并呈剂量依赖性。     

三七总皂苷抗大鼠心肌肥大的作用及其神经机制

目的　探讨三七总皂苷 (PNS)抗腹主动脉缩窄大鼠压力超负荷性心肌肥大的神经机制。方法　①用腹主动脉缩窄法建立心肌肥大模型 ,将大鼠分为假手术对照组、腹主动脉缩窄组及低、中、高剂量组 ,3个剂量组分别每日腹腔注射5 0、10 0和 15 0mgPNS·kg-1。 3wk后处死大鼠检测全心重量/体重 (HW/BW )、左室重量指数 (LVI) ,左心室组织切片HE染色后测心肌纤维直径 (MD)。②细胞内生物电记录技术观察PNS对大鼠星状神经节 (SG)的快兴奋性突触后电位 (f EPSP)、膜电位、膜电阻及对外源性乙酰胆碱引起的膜除极化反应的影响。结果　①高剂量组的HW /BW、LVI及MD显著低于缩窄组 ,P <0 0 1;中剂量组与缩窄组比较MD显著降低 ,P <0 0 5 ;低剂量组与缩窄组比较 ,HW/BW ,LVI和MD三项指标均无显著的变化。②PNS在 0 10～ 0 16g·L-1浓度范围内可使大鼠星状神经节f EPSP可逆性减小 ,PNS还可拮抗高钙对f EPSP的易化作用 ,但对膜电位、膜电阻及外源性ACh引起的膜除极反应无显著的影响。结论　PNS对f EPSP的抑制可能是其抗压力超负荷性心肌肥大的神经机制 ,而抑制作用则是通过突触前机制产生 ,且与拮抗Ca2 + 内流有关。     

Precision-cut liver slices as a new model to study toxicity-induced hepatic stellate cell activation in a physiologic milieu.

Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation is a key event in the natural process of wound healing as well as in fibrosis development in liver. Current in vitro models for HSC activation contribute significantly to the understanding of HSC biology and fibrogenesis but still fall far short of recapitulating in vivo intercellular functional and anatomic relationships. In addition, when cultured on uncoated plastic, HSC spontaneously activate, which makes HSC activation difficult to regulate or analyze. We have examined whether the use of precision-cut liver slices might overcome these limitations. Liver slices (8 mm diameter, 250 microm thickness) were generated from normal rat liver and incubated for 3 or 16 h with increasing doses of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Rat liver slices remained viable during incubation, as shown by minimal enzyme leakage. Expression of markers for HSC activation and the onset of fibrogenesis in the liver slices was studied using real-time PCR and Western blotting. In unstimulated liver slices, mRNA and protein levels of desmin, heat shock protein 47, and alpha B-crystallin remained constant, indicating quiescence of HSC, whereas Krüppel-like factor 6 expression was increased. In contrast, incubation with CCl4 led to a time- and dose-dependent increase in mRNA expression of all markers and an increased alpha B-crystallin protein expression. In conclusion, we have developed a technique to induce activation of quiescent HSC in rat liver slices. This model permits the study of toxicity-induced HSC activation within a physiological milieu, not only in animal but ultimately also in human tissue, and could contribute to the reduction of animal experiments.