Bicyclol ameliorates advanced liver diseases in murine models via inhibiting the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Bicyclol, a synthetic hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory agent approved in China, was widely used to treat various hepatitis accompanied by elevated serum aminotransferases. However, the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of bicyclol on advanced liver diseases, such as fibrosis/cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), remain to be explored. Here, we revealed that bicyclol prevents from formatting severe fibrosis, slows the progression of moderate liver fibrosis, accelerates the regression of moderate liver fibrosis, decreases the malignancy of HCC in rat models induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN), and also blocks steatohepatitis to HCC in mice induced by western diet plus carbon tetrachloride and DEN.

Combined Use of Bicyclol and Berberine Alleviates Mouse Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), ranging from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is a liver disease worldwide without approved therapeutic drugs. Anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective drug bicyclol and multi-pharmacological active drug berberine, respectively, have shown beneficial effects on NAFLD in murine nutritional models and patients, though the therapeutic mechanisms remain to be illustrated. Here, we investigated the combined effects of bicyclol and berberine on mouse steatosis induced by Western diet (WD), and NASH induced by WD/CCl.

TGF-β isoforms inhibit hepatitis C virus propagation in transforming growth factor beta/SMAD protein signalling pathway dependent and independent manners.

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) plays an important role in the viral liver disease progression via controlling viral propagation and mediating inflammation-associated responses. However, the antiviral activities and mechanisms of TGF-β isoforms, including TGF-β1, TGF-β2 and TGF-β3, remain unclear. Here, we demonstrated that all of the three TGF-β isoforms were increased in Huh7.

Autophagy in fate determination of mesenchymal stem cells and bone remodeling.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been widely exploited as promising candidates in clinical settings for bone repair and regeneration in view of their self-renewal capacity and multipotentiality. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying their fate determination, which would illustrate their effectiveness in regenerative medicine. Recent evidence has shed light on a fundamental biological role of autophagy in the maintenance of the regenerative capability of MSCs and bone homeostasis.

Aloperine inhibits hepatitis C virus entry into cells by disturbing internalisation from endocytosis to the membrane fusion process.

Aloperine, a natural alkaloid isolated from the Chinese traditional herb Sophora alopecuroides, is a broad-spectrum antiviral agent with anti-inflammatory activity. Here, we found that aloperine effectively inhibited hepatitis C virus (HCV) propagation in Huh7.5 cells and primary human hepatocytes without cytotoxicity, and it blocked HCV cell-to-cell viral transmission.

A proof-of-concept study in HCV-infected Huh7.5 cells for shortening the duration of DAA-based triple treatment regimens.

With the development of more effective direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), dual- or triple-therapy regimens represent the major strategy used to cure chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Thus, shorter treatment duration regimens with low burden, few adverse effects and good patient adherence are urgently needed. This study theoretically demonstrates a proof-of-concept approach for shortening therapy duration by examining HCV-infected Huh7.

Bicyclol Attenuates Liver Inflammation Induced by Infection of Hepatitis C Virus Repressing ROS-Mediated Activation of MAPK/NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

Treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) cures most patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the real world. However, some patients, especially those with the underlying advanced liver disease, have a limited reduction of liver injury after achieving a sustained viral response (SVR). Bicyclol was widely used in clinics for the treatment of a variety of liver injuries but with an unknown mechanism for the treatment of hepatitis C.

Spatial signalling mediated by the transforming growth factor-β signalling pathway during tooth formation.

Tooth development relies on sequential and reciprocal interactions between the epithelial and mesenchymal tissues, and it is continuously regulated by a variety of conserved and specific temporal-spatial signalling pathways. It is well known that suspensions of tooth germ cells can form tooth-like structures after losing the positional information provided by the epithelial and mesenchymal tissues. However, the particular stage in which the tooth germ cells start to form tooth-like structures after losing their positional information remains unclear.

Donor MHC gene to mitigate rejection of transplantation in recipient mice.

Background: Donor organ rejection continues to be a significant problem for patients receiving transplants. We therefore tested whether transferring a donor's major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene to the recipient would mitigate the rejection of transplanted hearts in mice.

Methods: H-2K(k) gene from donor mice was amplified using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and ligated into a mammalian expression vector, which was then transfected into thymus ground mass cells collected from the recipients.

[Orthodontic retention and adjustment of the occlusion after orthognathic surgery].

Objective: To investigate the orthodontic retention and adjustment of the occlusion after orthognathic surgery.

Methods: 18 patients were divided into three groups. Group I: Cases with skeletal Class I bimaxillary protrusion treated by subapical osteotomy; Group II: Cases with skeletal Class II mandibular retrusion treated by sagittal split mandibular advancement surgery; Group III: Cases with skeletal Class III treated by Le Fort I osteotomy on maxilla and sagittal split osteotomy on mandible.

Transgenic mice for cre-inducible overexpression of the Cul4A gene.

The Cullin 4A(Cul4A) gene is important in cell survival, development, growth, and cell cycle control and is amplified in breast and hepatocellular cancers. Recently, we reported that Cul4A plays an oncogenic role in the pathogenesis of mesothelioma. An important strategy for studying Cul4A in different tissues is targeted overexpression of this gene in vivo.

The expression of CXCR4, CXCL12 and CXCR7 in malignant pleural mesothelioma.

The chemokine CXCL12 and its receptors, CXCR4 and CXCR7, are involved in tumour progression, metastasis, and survival. We investigated the expression of CXCR4, CXCL12, and CXCR7 in malignant pleural mesothelioma to determine if they are possible biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets. Forty-one mesothelioma tumour tissues, ten normal human pleural tissues, and two mesothelioma cell lines were stained with anti-CXCR4, anti-CXCL12, anti-CXCR7, and anti-p-Akt antibodies.