Objective To review the mechanisms of cholesterol gallstones caused by female hormone so as to explore new treatments to prevent gallstones associated with estrogen and progesterone. Methods The literatures on gallstones related with female hormone were reviewed and the mechanisms of cholesterol gallstones were summarized. Results The cholesterol gallstones mechanisms was affected by estrogen through genomic effects，and the nucleation of cholesterol was promoted by estrogen through nongenomic，which resulted in the formation of cholesterol gallstones. And the bile empty dysfunction associated with estrogen through nongenomic effects was also the reason of cholesterol gallstone formation. The G proteins α subunit responsible for the motility of gallbladder were disrupted by progesterone through genomic effects，and the ionic channels and signal transduction were also interfered through nongenomic pathway，which impaired the contraction of gallbladder. However，the nongenomic effects might not play an important role in the gallstones formation caused by progesterone. Conclusions The mechanisms of cholesterol gallstones formation associated with female hormone are complicated，the understanding of chelesterol gallstones formation mechanisms might be helpful to prevent gallstones associated with estrogen and progesterone.
ObjectiveTo investigate the inhibitory effect of the inhibition of antigen-presentation attenuators (iAPA)-based dendritic cells (DC) and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL)-iAPA-DC/CTL on SMMC-7721 xenograft in nude mice. MethodsUsing the human hepatic carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721 on nude mice to establish a transplanted tumor model of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Twelve nude mice were divided into two groups randomly: normal saline control group (control group) and iAPA-DC/CTL group (n=6, each).After four times treatment with iAPA-DC/CTL (once a week), all mice were sacrificed.Tumor growth was calculated by measuring the long/short diameters and the tumor growth curve was delineated.The tumors were weighed and the tumor inhibition rate was calculated.In addition, the histopathological examination was conducted. ResultsThe SMMC-7721 xenograft model was successfully established in 85.71% (12/14) of all mice.The tumor volume was (3 661.48±322.59) mm3 and (2 725.36±252.65) mm3 in control group and iAPA-DC/CTL group, respectively.The tumor growth was significantly inhibited in iAPA-DC/CTL group (t=5.62, P < 0.05).The tumor weight was (1.97±0.21) g and (1.38±0.14) g in control group and iAPA-DC/CTL group, respectively.The tumor weight in iAPA-DC/CTL group was significantly reduced (t=5.73, P < 0.05), and the tumor inhibition rate was 29.95%.After immunohistochemical staining T lymphocyte counts was 0 cell/HPF and (54.24±4.31) cells/HPF in control group and iAPA-DC/CTL group, respectively.The number of T lymphocytes in iAPA-DC/CTL group was significantly increased (t=25.02, P < 0.05). ConclusioniAPA-DC/CTL could effectively inhibit the growth of subcutaneously implanted HCC.