Association of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 Expression with Liver Fibrosis in a Mouse Model of Schistosomiasis.

Immunopathological mechanisms of schistosomiasis, a debilitating parasitic disease, are still unclear. In this study, we investigated the involvement of CX3C chemokine ligand 1 (CX3CL1) and its sole receptor CX3CR1 in the development of liver fibrosis in schistosomiasis. The animal model of schistosomiasis was established by infection of C57BL/6 mice with Schistosoma japonicum cercariae; mice injected with carbon tetrachloride (CCl) were used as positive control of liver injury.

Animal models for the study of hepatitis B virus infection.

Even with an effective vaccine, an estimated 240 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) worldwide. Current antiviral therapies, including interferon and nucleot(s)ide analogues, rarely cure chronic hepatitis B. Animal models are very crucial for understanding the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B and developing new therapeutic drugs or strategies.

Pentoxifylline inhibits liver fibrosis via hedgehog signaling pathway.

Infection of schistosomiasis japonica may eventually lead to liver fibrosis, and no effective antifibrotic therapies are available but liver transplantation. Hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway has been involved in the process and is a promising target for treating liver fibrosis. This study aimed to explore the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) on liver fibrosis induced by schistosoma japonicum infection by inhibiting the HH signaling pathway.

Molecular cloning, characterization and expression analysis of woodchuck retinoic acid-inducible gene I.

Cytosolic retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) is an important innate immune RNA sensor and can induce antiviral cytokines, e.g., interferon-β (IFN-β).

Upregulation of toll-like receptor 4 on T cells in PBMCs is associated with disease aggravation of HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure.

Immune-mediated inflammatory injury is an important feature of the disease aggravation of hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have been shown previously to play a pivotal role in the activation of innate immunity. The purpose of this study was to characterize the TLR4 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of ACLF patients and its possible role in the disease aggravation.

Isothiafludine, a novel non-nucleoside compound, inhibits hepatitis B virus replication through blocking pregenomic RNA encapsidation.

Aim: To investigate the action of isothiafludine (NZ-4), a derivative of bis-heterocycle tandem pairs from the natural product leucamide A, on the replication cycle of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: HBV replication cycle was monitored in HepG2.2.

[Assessment of mitochondrial toxicity induced by zidovudine and adefovir dipivoxil in rats].

Objective: To explore the mitochondrial toxicities induced by zidovudine (AZT) and adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) antiviral drugs using a rat model system.

Methods: Twelve healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three equal groups and treated by oral gavage with zidovudine (125 mg/kg/day), adefovir (40 mg/kg/day), or saline (equal volume) for 28 days. The rats' body weights were measured once a week, and blood was collected every two weeks for blood and biochemical tests.

Immunostaining of PD-1/PD-Ls in liver tissues of patients with hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To investigate the expression of programmed death (PD)-1, PD ligand 1 (PD-L1) and PD-L2 in liver tissues in the context of chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Liver biopsies and HCC specimens from patients were collected and histologically examined. The expression of PD-1, PD-L1, and PD-L2 in biopsy specimens of chronic hepatitis and HCC specimens was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining.

Establishing a new animal model for hepadnaviral infection: susceptibility of Chinese Marmota-species to woodchuck hepatitis virus infection.

Hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) is a major medical problem in China. The lack of a suitable infection model in China is recognized as an obstacle for research on HBV in China. Chinese Marmota-species is phylogenetically closely related to Marmota monax, thus, it might be suitable to serve as an animal model for HBV infection.

[Expression of IFN-alpha/beta receptor in the PBMCs and liver of patients with hepatitis B and its clinical significance].

Objective: To explore the role of interferon (IFN)-alpha/beta receptor beta subunit (IFNAR2) in the patients' response to IFN-alpha therapy as influenced by the grade of chronic hepatic inflammation, and understand the relation of IFNAR2 expression in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with HBV infection.

Methods: Liver tissue specimens were obtained from 21 patients with chronic hepatitis B for examination of the hepatic inflammation, and PBMCs were isolated from another 16 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 15 health control subjects. Both the hepatic tissues and PBMCs were examined for IFNAR2 expression using immunohistochemistry.

Replication of clinical hepatitis B virus isolate and its application for selecting antiviral agents for chronic hepatitis B patients.

Aim: To establish a cell model harboring replicative clinical hepatitis B virus (HBV) isolates and evaluate its application in individualized selection of anti-HBV agents for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

Methods: The full-length HBV genomic DNA from 8 CHB patients was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All the patients were treated with lamivudine for at least seven months and finally became resistant to lamivudine.

[Prokaryotic expression and polyclonal antibody preparation of truncated duck hepatitis B virus core protein].

Aim: To construct a prokaryotic plasmid expressing truncated duck hepatitis B virus core protein (DHBc(1-214)), purify the recombinant protein, and to develop polyclonal antibodies against DHBc.

Methods: DHBc(1-214) was cloned into vector pRSET-B, then expressed in E.coli Rosetta(DE3) pLacI induced by IPTG.

Expression of PTEN, PPM1A and P-Smad2 in hepatocellular carcinomas and adjacent liver tissues.

Aim: To investigate the expressions of PTEN, PPM1A and P-Smad2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and their significance.

Methods: The expressions of PTEN, PPM1A and P-Smad2 in 31 HCC tissues, 25 adjacent liver tissues and 13 non-tumor liver tissues were detected by using Envision immunohistochemical technique.

Results: The positive expression (64.

[Expressions of phosphorylated-Smad2 and PTEN in hepatocellular carcinomas and adjacent liver tissues].

Objective: To investigate the expressions of phosphorylated Smad2 (P-Smad2) and phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues.

Methods: The expressions of P-Smad2 and PTEN were detected using Envision immunohistochemical technique in 31 cases of HCC tissues, 25 cases of HCC adjacent liver tissues and 13 cases of non-hepatocellular carcinoma tissues.

Results: The positive expression and staining intensity of PTEN in the cytoplasm of HCC cells (64.

[The growth inhibition effects of TSLC1 gene on human hepatocyte carcinoma cell line HepG2].

Objectives: To study the effects of tumor suppressor in lung cancer-1 (TSLC1) on human hepatocyte carcinoma cell line HepG2.

Methods: A full length of TSLC1 cDNA was amplified from RNA of normal human liver cells by RT-PCR, and it was cloned into a pCI-neo expression vector and transfected into human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2. The HepG2 cells transfected with this plasmid (experimental group) and those treated with pCI-neo vector (control group) and without any treatment (blank group) were compared.

N-terminal and C-terminal cytosine deaminase domain of APOBEC3G inhibit hepatitis B virus replication.

Aim: To investigate the effect of human apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme catalytic-polypeptide 3G (APOBEC3G) and its N-terminal or C-terminal cytosine deaminase domain-mediated antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: The mammalian hepatoma cells HepG2 and HuH7 were cotransfected with APOBEC3G and its N-terminal or C-terminal cytosine deaminase domain expression vector and 1.3-fold-overlength HBV DNA as well as the linear monomeric HBV of genotype B and C.

[Inhibition of hepatitis B and duck hepatitis B virus replication by APOBEC3G].

Objective: To investigate the effect of apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-like 3G (APOBEC3G) mediated antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV) and duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV).

Methods: Total RNA was extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), RT-PCR product was cloned into the EcoR I/Hind III restriction sites of the CMV-driven expression vector fused with a hemagglutinin fusion epitope tag at its carboxyl terminal. Replication competent 1.

Inhibition of hepatitis B virus replication by APOBEC3G in vitro and in vivo.

Aim: To investigate the effect of APOBEC3G mediated antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in cell cultures and replication competent HBV vector-based mouse model.

Methods: The mammalian hepatoma cells Huh7 and HepG2 were cotransfected with various amounts of CMV-driven expression vector encoding APOBEC3G and replication competent 1.3 fold over-length HBV.

[Expression of interferon alpha family gene of Chinese marmot in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells].

Objective: To investigate the function of interferon alpha (IFNalpha) in a Chinese marmot model of hepatitis B, we expressed the Chinese marmot (Marmota himalayana) IFNalpha family gene (IFNA) in eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells.

Methods: Eukaryotic and prokaryotic expression plasmids harboring Chinese marmot interferon alpha gene with different genotypes were generated using molecular cloning technology. We detected the biological activity of all expression products by viral protection assay, and analyzed their differences and species restriction of the biological activity.

[Distribution of hepatitis B virus genotypes in Hubei province and its clinical significance].

Objective: To investigate the distribution of hepatitis B virus genotype in Hubei province (China) and its clinical significance.

Methods: Serum samples from 190 HBV DNA positive patients with chronic HBV infection,including 52 asymptomatic HBV carriers (ASC), 56 chronic hepatitis (CH), 32 fulminant hepatic failure (FHF), 22 liver cirrhosis (LC), and 28 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients were collected and tested for HBV genotypes by type-specific primers.

Results: A simple and precise genotyping system based on PCR using type-specific primers was developed for the determination of genotypes of hepatitis B virus (HBV).

The relationship between loss expression of DPC4/Smad4 gene and carcinogenesis of pancreatobiliary carcinoma.

Objective: To clarify the relationship between loss of DPC4 gene expression and pathogenesis of pancreatobiliary carcinoma.

Methods: 75 slides of normal duct (20), hyperplasia (15), dysplasia (15), invasive carcinoma (25) from patients with pancreatic diseases including pancreatic carcinoma (25 patients), chronic pancreatitis (6), pancreas injury (2) and 71 slides of common bile duct (CBD) carcinoma (38), gallbladder carcinoma (18), hilar bile duct (HBD) carcinoma (15) from patients with primary biliary tract carcinoma were analyzed for the expression of DPC4 protein by immunohistochemical staining.

Results: All specimens from 20 cases of normal duct and 15 cases of hyperplasia showed marked expression of DPC4 protein.

FADD and TRADD expression and apoptosis in primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIM:To investigate the clinical features of FADD and TRADD expressions in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to determine their relationship with hepatic apoptosis.METHODS:FADD and TRADD expressions were detected by immunohis-tochemistry and hepatic apoptosis were determined by in situ end-labeling (ISEL).RESULTS:Ten (25.