Phenotypic switch of human and mouse macrophages and resultant effects on apoptosis resistance in hepatocytes.

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) carries a significant burden on critical care services and health care resources. However, the exact pathogenesis of ACLF remains to be elucidated, and novel treatments are desperately required. In our previous work, we utilized mice subjected to acute insult in the context of hepatic fibrosis to simulate the development of ACLF and documented the favorable hepatoprotection conferred by M2-like macrophages in vivo and in vitro.

Cellular Mechanisms of Hepatoprotection Mediated by M2-Like Macrophages.

BACKGROUND Acute liver injury in the setting of hepatic fibrosis is an intriguing and still unsettled issue. We previously have demonstrated the protective effects conferred by M2-like macrophages in the fibrotic liver. In the present work, we further decipher the cellular mechanisms governing this hepatoprotection.

M2-like macrophages in the fibrotic liver protect mice against lethal insults through conferring apoptosis resistance to hepatocytes.

Acute injury in the setting of liver fibrosis is an interesting and still unsettled issue. Most recently, several prominent studies have indicated the favourable effects of liver fibrosis against acute insults. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms governing this hepatoprotection remain obscure.

Correlation between hepatitis B virus DNA levels and diagnostic tests for HBsAg, HBeAg, and PreS1-Ag in chronic hepatitis B.

The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of the serum markers HBsAg and HBeAg and PreS1 protein (PreS1-Ag) in quantifying the levels of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). One thousand CHB patients were recruited from Beijing You'an Hospital between June and December 2012. Serum HBsAg and HBeAg levels were detected by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.

Inhibition of the translocation and extracellular release of high-mobility group box 1 alleviates liver damage in fibrotic mice in response to D-galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide challenge.

Acute liver injury in the setting of fibrosis is an area of interest in investigations, and remains to be fully elucidated. Previous studies have suggested the beneficial effects of liver fibrosis induced by thioacetamide and partial bile duct ligation against Fas‑mediated acute liver injury. The activation of AKT and extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling is considered to be crucial in this hepatoprotection.

Huaier polysaccharides suppresses hepatocarcinoma MHCC97-H cell metastasis via inactivation of EMT and AEG-1 pathway.

We have recently reported that astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) might be an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) associated biomarker in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and play an important role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma. To extend our study, we examined here the anti-invasive and metastatic effects of Huaier polysaccharide (HP) on human HCC cell line MHCC97-H and explored its possible mechanism of action. Treatment with HP dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation, adhesion, migration and invasion of MHCC97-H cells in vitro.

Stellera chamaejasme L. extract induces apoptosis of human lung cancer cells via activation of the death receptor-dependent pathway.

Stellera chamaejasme L. has been widely used in the treatment of lung, liver and esophageal cancer in Chinese traditional medicine. In our previous study, we found that the extract of Stellera chamaejasme L.

[Comparative study on tumor cell apoptosis in vitro induced by extracts of Stellera chamaejasme].

Objective: To in vitro compare the induction of extracts of Stellera chamaejasme ESC, ESC-1 and ESC-2 on NCI-H157 cell apoptotic.

Method: The apoptosis rate was inspected by flow cytometry; caspase-3, 8, 9 activities was measured by spectrophotometry. Fas, Fas-L, TNF-alpha, Trail-R, Cyto-C, Smac/diablo protein expressions of apoptosis pathway was observed by Elisa method.

[Regularity analysis on clinical treatment in primary liver cancer by traditional Chinese medicine].

Objective: To evaluate clinical treatment regularity of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) on primary liver cancer and provide inspiration for the clinical use.

Method: Traditional Chinese medicine database on primary liver cancer was established to analysis the classification, frequency, dosage of TCM in clinical treatment.

Result: Tonic medicine is the most common medication, herbs for heat-clearing, promoting blood circulation for removing blood stasis, eliminating dampness and diuresis and regulating flow of Qi are more common medication, herbs for relieving exterior disorder and digesting are common medication; the first frequency of single herb is Atractglodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, Poria, Codonopsis Radix.

[The role of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta in the pathogenesis of liver ischemia reperfusion injury].

Objective: To investigate the role of the key intracellular signaling molecule glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta in the mechanism of liver ischemia reperfusion (IR).

Methods: C57BL/6 mice were subjected to 90 min warm liver cephalad lobe ischemia, followed by various length of reperfusion. Experiment groups included sham control group, liver IRI model group and glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta inhibitor-treated group (SB216763 in DMSO, 25 g/kg, i.