MicroRNA-181a-5p suppresses cell proliferation by targeting Egr1 and inhibiting Egr1/TGF-β/Smad pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Early growth response factor 1 (Egr1) plays a crucial role in cancer progression. However, its precise role in HCC has not been clear.

Induction of Apoptosis by Berberine in Hepatocellular Carcinoma HepG2 Cells via Downregulation of NF-κB.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is highly resistant to traditional chemotherapeutic approaches, which causes difficulty in the development of effective drugs for the treatment of HCC. Berberine, a major ingredient of Rhizoma coptidis, is a natural alkaloid used in traditional Chinese medicine. Berberine exhibits potent antitumor activity against HCC due to its high efficiency and low toxicity.

Therapeutic effect of autologous bone marrow-derived liver stem cells transplantation in hepatitis B virus-induced liver cirrhosis.

Background/aims: To determine the safety, feasibility and therapeutic effect of in vitro-expanded autologous bone marrow-derived liver stem cells (BMDLSC) transplantation in cirrhotic patients following chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Methodology: Twelve patients with post-hepatitic cirrhosis and portal hypertension who required splenectomy with periesophagogastric devascularization were included and were divided into two groups. Group I included six patients who received autologous BMDLSC infusion via the hepatic artery after in vitro expansion for 7 days.

[Adult-to-adult living-related donor liver transplantation: report of 2 cases].

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and safety of adult-to-adult living-related donor liver transplantation using a right lobe graft.

Methods: The clinical data of 2 cases of living-related donor liver transplantation performed between July, 2010 and November, 2010 were analyzed.

Results: Liver transplantation was performed using a right lobe graft including the middle hepatic vein in one case and a right lobe graft without the middle hepatic vein in the other.

[Variations of the amount of sialic acids on hepatocellular carcinoma cell membrane].

Objective: To observe the change in the amount of sialic acids on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell membrane.

Methods: Surgical specimens of HCC and liver cirrhosis tissues were obtained from 28 patients to prepare carcinoma cell and hepatocyte suspensions by collagenase digestion. For assay of α2, 3 and α2, 6-sialic acids, the cells were suspended in the staining buffer containing either fluorescein isothiocyanate-Maackia amurensis lectin (FITC-MAL) or fluorescein isothiocyanate-Sambucus nigra bark lectin (FITC-SNA) and incubated for 1 h, respectively.

[Intrahepatic transplantation of in vitro induced autologous bone marrow-derived liver stem cells in patients with posthepatitic cirrhosis].

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of in vitro induced autologous bone marrow-derived liver stem cell transplantation for posthepatitic cirrhosis.

Methods: Between Jun 2008 and Mar 2009, 12 patients with posthepatitic cirrhosis and portal hypertensive underwent azygousportal disconnection and splenectomy in our department. The patients were then divided into two groups to receive autologous bone marrow-deprived liver stem cell infusion via the hepatic artery after in vitro induction for 7 days (n=6) or saline (n=6).

[Protocols for cloning human bone marrow-derived hepatic stem cells in vitro].

Objective: To explore practical protocols for cloning bone marrow-derived hepatic stem cells in vitro.

Methods: The cell fraction rich in CD117(+) cells and CD184(+) cells was separated from fresh bone marrow by density gradient centrifugation and cultured for 0, 7 and 14 days in high-glucose DMEM supplemented with or without 10% autologous serum or in serum-free high-glucose DMEM. All the media were supplemented with different concentrations of hepatocyte growth promoting factors (HGPF), thrombopoietin (TPO) and interleukin-3 (IL-3).

[Establishment of a mouse model of biliary obstruction and its dynamic observations].

Objective: To establish a mouse model of biliary obstruction.

Methods: Sixty-four Balb/c mice were divided into experimental group and control group. Obstructive jaundice was induced in the mice in the experimental group by common bile duct ligation.

[Effects of hepatic growth factor on c-kit+Lin- cell proliferation in mouse bone marrow].

Objective: To determine the optimal cytokine combinations with hepatic growth factor (HGF) that results in the most significant simultaneous in vitro expansion of cc-kit(+)Lin(-) cells derived from the bone marrow.

Methods: C-kit(+)Lin(-) cells were isolated from mouse bone marrow using a high-gradient magnetic cell sorting system (MACS) and expanded in the presence of stem cell factor (SCF), FLt-3 ligand (FL), leukemia inhibitor factor (LIF) thrombopoietin (TPO) and different concentrations of HGF for 7days in a liquid culture system. The total cell number and Annexin-V-positive cell number were counted, and the antigen expressions were studied with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS).

[Differentiation of transplanted mouse c-Kit+lin- bone marrow cells into hepatocytes in vitro].

Objective: To ascertain whether mouse c-Kit(+)Lin- bone marrow cells have the potential of hepatic stem cells.

Methods: c-Kit(+)lin- bone marrow cells were isolated and purified by magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) from BALB/C male donor mice, and immediately transplanted into age-matched BALB/C syngeneic female mice with 35-Gy total liver irradiation. The recipients were sacrificed 1 month after the transplantation for pathological observation of the liver morphology.