Objective To summarize the role of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in the occurrence and progression of various sorts of liver injury. Methods Literatures on the structures, property of molecular biology and function of NF-κB, as well as its relationships with liver injury were collected and reviewed. Results NF-κB was an important nuclear factor existed in cells widely distributed in most cell types. The activation of NF-κB was induced by various sorts of liver injury. The activated NF-κB could affect the liver injury by regulating cytokines, adhesion molecules, and activating factor involving in immunologic reaction， inflammatory reaction and the apoptosis. Conclusion NF-κB plays an important role during the occurrence and progression of liver injury， and may become a new target in the treatment of liver injury.
ObjectiveTo explore the regulation of nuclear factorκB (NFκB) on tumor necrosis factorα (TNFα) expression in the liver and its role in liver injury in rats with acute pancreatitis.MethodsSeventytwo Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: acute pancreatitis group (AP), acute pancreatitis treated with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) group (APP) and sham operation group (SO). The hepatic NFκB activities were determined with electrophoretic mobility shift assays. The expressions of hepatic TNFα mRNA were detected with RTPCR. The levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were also measured.ResultsThe NFκB activities were significantly higher in AP and APP groups than those in SO group 3-6 hours after operation. The expressions of TNFα mRNA were ber in AP and APP groups than those in SO group 3-24 hours after operation. The levels of serum ALT were also significantly higher in these two groups than those in SO group 3-24 hours after operation. However, compared with AP group, the activities of NFκB, the expressions of TNFα mRNA and the levels of ALT significantly decreased in APP group.ConclusionThe activation of hepatic NFκB is associated with the liver injury by regulating TNFα mRNA expression in acute pancreatitis.
Objective To investigate the effect of hepatocyte-l ike cells induced by CD34+ cells in vitro on the repair of the injured hepatic tissues of mice in vivo. Methods Mononuclear cells were isolated from umbil ical blood by density gradient centrifugation and enriched CD34+ cells were obtained. The cells were (1 × 105 cells/mL) cultured in serumfreemedium containing stem cell factor (SCF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), EGF, oncostatin M (OSM), bFGF (the concentration were 50, 20, 20, 10, 10 ng/mL respectively) in vitro for 10 days. Forty-eight 6-week-old female ICR mice werechosen to prepare l iver injury model by injecting carbon tetrachloride and 2-acetylamionoflu-orene. The mice were randomly divided into two groups (n=24 per group): the experimental group, the cultured cells were injected into the mice through the tail vein; the control group, the equivalent serum-free medium was injected. Six mice from each group were killed at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after operation to receive HE staining, PCR gel electrophoresis, immunohistochemistry staining, and hepatic function detection. Results HE staining: the morphology of injured hepatic tissues in the control group recovered to normal 28 days after operation, while in the experimental group, it recovered to normal 14 days after operation. PCR gel electrophoresis and immunohistochemistry staining: the cells expressing human serum albumin were detected in the hepatic tissue of the experimental group at each time point after operation; while in the control group, no such cells were detected within 28 days after operation. Hepatic function detection: the activity of alanine aminitransperase in the control group recovered to normal 14 days after operation; the mean activity of aspartate aminotransferase of two groups failed to recover within 28 days. Conclusion The hepatocyte-l ike cells induced by CD34+ cells in vitro can promote the morphological and functional recovery of the injured hepatic tissue in mice. Moreover, it can be transformed into human-derived hepatic cells in l iver-injured mice.
Objective To investigate the protective effect of melatonin on rat liver injury induced by bile duct ligation. Methods Sixty-four rats were randomly divided into four groups：control group （CN group， n=16）， shamoperation group （SO group， n=16）， bile duct ligation group （BDL group， n=16）， and bile duct ligation with melatonin injection （BDL＋MT group， n=16）. The model of obstructive jaundice was done by ligation of the common bile duct. Melatonin was injected daily （0.5 mg/kg） via peritoneal cavity from 1 d before the operation to 7 d following oper-ation. On day 4 and 8 after the ligation， the plasma levels of total bilirubin （TBIL）， alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， gamma glutamyl transferase （GGT）， and alkaline phosphatase （AKP） were measured by routine methods. Malonaldehyde （MDA）， superoxide dismutase （SOD）， glutathione （GSH）， catalase （CAT）， and glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px） in the liver tissue were determined by spectrophtometry， too. Hepatocytes apoptosis was analyzed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxynuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling （TUNEL） assay. Results Compared with the CN group and SO group， the levels of TBIL， ALT， AST， GGT， and AKP in the plasma， the content of MDA in the liver tissue， and the apoptosis index （AI） in the hepatocyte markedly increased （P＜0.05， P＜0.01）， the content of GSH and the activities of SOD， CAT， and GSH-Px in the liver tissue markedly decreased（P＜0.01） in the BDL group. Compared with the BDL group， the levels of TBIL， ALT， AST， GGT， and AKP in the plasma， the content of MDA in the liver tissue， and the AI in the hepatocyte markedly decreased （P＜0.01）， the content of GSH and the activities of SOD， CAT， and GSH-Px in the liver tissue markedly increased （P＜0.01） in the BDL＋MT group. In the BDL group， the level of MDA in the liver tissue and the levels of TBIL， ALT， AST， GGT， and AKP were positively correlated （P＜0.01）， the content of GSH and the activities of SOD， CAT， and GSH-Px in the liver tissue and TBIL， ALT， AST， GGT， and AKP were negatively correlated （P＜0.01）. The level of MDA in the liver tissue and AI in the hepatocyte was positively correlated （P＜0.01）. The content of GSH and the activities of SOD， CAT， and GSH-Px in the liver tissue and AI were negatively correlated （P＜0.01）. Conclusions The participation of free radical of oxygen in the pathogenesis and severity of cholestasis produced by the acute obstruction of the extra-hepatic biliary duct is likely. The result of the present study indicates that melatonin exerts a protective effect on cholestatic liver injury in rats with BDL. The mechanism of melatonin’s protection on hepatocyte may be through its antioxidant action and by inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis.
Objective To investigate the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in liver tissue of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) rats. Methods A rat model of SAP was induced by retrograde infusion of 3.5% sodium taurocholate into the biliary-pancreatic duct. Eighty rats were randomly divided into SAP group and control group. The levels of serum amylase (AMY), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -α and ascites AMY were detected dynamically at 4 h, 8 h, 16 h and 24 h after operation. The pancreatic and liver injuries were observed by light microscope. The expression of COX-2 in liver tissue was measured by immunohistochemistry. Results Compared with the control group, the levels of serum AMY, ALT, AST, TNF-α and ascites AMY increased significantly at the time point of 4 h, 8 h, 16 h and 24 h (Plt;0.05). These changes were paralleled with the histopathological changes of pancreatic and liver tissue. The expression positive rates of COX-2 at the different time in the SAP group were higer than those of the control group (Plt;0.05). There was a significantly positive correlation between the expression of COX-2 and ALT (rs=0.949, P=0.039), AST (rs=0.972, P=0.016) and serum AMY (rs=0.944, P=0.041), respectively. Conclusion Overexpression of COX-2 may play an important role in liver injury during SAP.
ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect of Shenfu injection on liver injury in rats with hind limb ischemia-reperfusion and its mechanism. MethodsSixty-four male rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, ischemia-reperfusion group, Shenfu group〔Shenfu injection 7.5 mL/kg injection of peritoneal(ip), given 10 min before ischemia-reperfusion〕, Shenfu+Znpp group(Shenfu injection 7.5 mL/kg+Znpp 5 mg/kg ip, given 10 min before ischemia-reperfusion), 16 rats in each group. The rat model of hind limb ischemia-reperfusion injury was reproduced by occluding the hind limb artery of the rats for 3 h and subsequent reperfusing for 4 h. The liver tissues were gathered for malondialdehyde(MDA)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)determination. The expression of hemeoxygenase 1(HO-1)protein in the liver tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. The pathological changes of liver were observed under the light microscope. The changes of serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase(GPT)and glutamine oxaloacetic transaminase(GOT)were observed respectively. Results①Compared with the sham operation group, the contents of MDA, GPT, GOT, and the expression of HO-1 protein were markedly increased in the ischemia-reperfusion group, Shenfu group, and Shenfu+Znpp group(P < 0.05), the activities of SOD were markedly decreased in the ischemia-reperfusion group and Shenfu+Znpp group(P < 0.05).②Compared with the ischemia-reperfusion group, the contents of MDA, serum GPT, GOT, and the expression of HO-1 protein were markedly decreased, the activity of SOD was markedly increased in the Shenfu group(P < 0.05).③Compared with the Shenfu group, the contents of MDA, GPT, GOT were markedly increased, the activity of SOD was markedly decreased in the Shenfu+Znpp group(P < 0.05). Unde ther light microscope, the pathological changes induced by ischemia-reperfusion were significantly attenuated by the Shenfu injection in the Shenfu group and were reversed by the Znpp in the Shenfu+Znpp group. ConclusionShenfu injection inhibits liver tissue injury during hind limb ischemia-reperfusion, this protective effect might be partly through induction of HO-1.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway on liver injury induced by severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). MethodsForty healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: Sham operation group (SO group), SAP group, PI3K inhibitor LY294002 group (LY294002 group), and mTOR kinase inhibitor rapamycin group (rapamycin group). The rat model with SAP was made by injection with 5% sodium deoxycholate through retrogradely bilio pancreatic duct. Serum levels of amylase (AMY), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST) were detected through the inferior vena at 6 h after modeling. Pathologic change of the liver was observed under the light microscope. TUNEL analysis was used to detect apoptotic index (AI) of the heptocyte. Expressions of Akt, phosphated-Akt (p-Akt), mTOR, phosphated-mTOR (p-mTOR) protein were evaluated by Western blot. Results①Compared with the SO group, the serum levels of AMY, ALT, AST, and the hepatocyte AI were significantly increased among the other three groups (P < 0.05). Compared with the SAP group, the serum levels of AMY, ALT, AST, and the hepatocyte AI were significantly decreased in the LY294002 group and rapamycin group (P < 0.05).②Compared with the SO group, the damages of the liver tissues were aggravated among the other three groups. The pathologies of the liver tissues were ameliorated in the LY294002 group and rapamycin group as compared with the SAP group.③Compared with the SO group, the levels of p-Akt/Akt, p-mTOR/mTOR were significantly increased among the other three groups (P < 0.05). Compared with the SAP group, the levels of p-Akt/Akt, p-mTOR/mTOR were significantly decreased in the LY294002 group (P < 0.05), but in the rapamycin group, only the p-mTOR/mTOR level was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). ConclusionThe activation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway might be one of the reasons for the liver injury induced by SAP and blocking this signaling pathway might be a potential target of preventing progress of SAP and alleviating liver injury induced by SAP.