Synchrotron refractive-index microradiography of human liver cancer tissue

Three human liver tissue samples （-5 mm × 40 mm × 20 mm） were excised from a cancer patient＇s liver during surgery. The microradiology analysis was performed with a non-standard approach on a synchrotron. High-resolution refractive-index edge-enhanced microradiographs that cover a larger volume of the liver tissue sample were obtained. The cancer tissue and normal tissue could be clearly identified and distinguished based on their different textures. Furthermore, new blood vessel hyperplasia was found near the cancer area. Blood vessels with a diameter smaller than 20 μm could be identified. These findings were fully consistent with the histopathological examination or the same area. Microradiographs of the newly formed blood vessels at different angles were also obtained. This result shows that it is possible to further develop this approach into a technique of microradiographic imaging for clinic diagnosis of liver cancer at the early stage.     

Cultivation of the liver forms of Plasmodium vivax in human hepatocytes

The blood schizogonic cycle of human malaria parasites has thus far been the most exhaustively studied phase of parasite development. However, before entering red blood cells (RBCs), the parasite undergoes its first multiplication not in blood, but in hepatic cells. These hepatic stages were the last to be discovered and only a few studies have been performed in humans and other primates. Despite recent advances, in vivo studies have limitations and other approaches such as cultures of these liver forms may be necessary to investigate their chemosensitivity and their biochemical or immunological properties. Recently, sporozoites of species of rodent malaria have been made to infect cultured cell lines or primary hepatocyte cultures. We report here that the complete cycle of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax can be obtained in primary cultures of human hepatocytes up to release of merozoites able to penetrate RBCs.     

Ultrastructural localization of factor VIII procoagulant antigen in human liver hepatocytes

Factor VIII is generally believed to circulate in blood as a multimeric complex of two glycoproteins which are physiologically and immunologically distinct. One component of the factor VIII complex is factor VIII procoagulant activity (FVIII:C) which is associated with factor VIII/procoagulant antigen (FVIII:Ag, formerly FVIII/CAg). The second, larger unit of the complex is factor VIII/von Willebrand factor (vWF:Ag, formerly factor VIII-related antigen or FVIIIRAg). FVIII:C has anti-haemophilic activity and is defective or deficient in patients with classical haemophilia, and vWF:Ag is absent in patients with von Willebrand disease. FVIII:Ag was demonstrated recently in endothelial cells lining hepatic sinusoids, by using immunoperoxidase staining and light microscopy, whereas biochemical data had indicated its presence predominantly in the hepatocyte fractions and in lesser amounts in endothelial cells. Moreover, recent hybridization experiments detected FVIII:C messenger RNA in liver and kidney tissues. Despite several efforts, the cells responsible for FVIII:C synthesis have not been unequivocally identified. Here we use protein A-gold complex labelling to demonstrate the ultrastructural localization of FVIII:C in human liver cells; the results indicate that hepatocytes may synthesize FVIII:Ag.     

Distribution of factor VIII mRNA and antigen in human liver and other tissues

The cellular site of synthesis of factor VIII (FVIII:C; anti-haemophilic factor) has long been sought. Previous studies suggested the liver as a major site of synthesis, but extrahepatic sources such as spleen and lung have been implicated. Using an immunoradiometric assay (IRMA), we recently localized factor VIII antigen (FVIII:Ag, formerly FVIII:CAg), to whole perfused guinea pig liver and spleen, and to isolated hepatocytes, with lesser or trace amounts in other tissues. Using an immunohistological technique, Stel et al. detected FVIII:Ag in normal human liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, while Exner et al. detected FVIII:Ag by IRMA in extracts of human lymph nodes, lung, liver and spleen. The localization of antigen in tissues does not, however, distinguish sites of factor VIII synthesis from those of storage, and such experiments are subject to misinterpretation due to entrapment of plasma factor VIII in tissues. The recent cloning of the human factor VIII gene provides hybridization probes for the detection of factor VIII messenger RNA in cells, thus directly determining sites of synthesis. During complementary DNA cloning, we detected factor VIII mRNA in liver, and it has been localized by others in liver and placenta and in liver and kidney. In the present study, we detected factor VIII mRNA in isolated human hepatocytes, in spleen and in numerous tissues including lymph nodes and kidney, but not in white blood cells or cultured endothelial cells. We also found that the factor VIII, factor VII, factor IX and protein C antigens in liver are predominantly localized in hepatocytes, while very little von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF:Ag, formerly FVIIIR Ag) is detectable in this organ.     

Controlled synthesis of HBsAg in a differentiated human liver carcinoma-derived cell line.

A significant aspect of primary hepatic carcinoma in man is the high positive correlation of hepatocellular carcinoma with infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV)1. Analysis of the relationship between HBV infection and oncogenesis is difficult because natural infection with HBV is limited to man and experimental infection has been achieved only in chimpanzees and gibbons. Furthermore, because HBV has not been successfully propagated in cell culture, basic study of virus-cell interaction of the aetiological agent of one of the most widespread infections of man has been impossible. Recently, however, a cell line (PLC/PRF/5) derived from a human hepatoma biopsy was described which produces the HRV surface antigen (HBsAg) and so provides a tool for the experimental investigation of HBV in viro. We now report the derivation and characterisation of two additional cell lines primary liver carcinomas. In contrast to the PLC/PRF/5 cell line, these cell lines retain the capacity to synthesise many human plasma proteins, including both albumin and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). One of these lines also produces BHsAg. We also present evidence that HBsAg synthesis and secretion in this cell line are correlated with the growth state of the culture. This finding is in contrast to the continuous HBsAg production found in the PLC/PRF/5 cell line.     

石蒜碱诱导人肝癌HepG-2细胞凋亡机制研究

利用MTT试验,检测石蒜碱对人肝癌HepG-2细胞具有增殖抑制作用,并观察细胞凋亡形态,采用流式细胞仪检测肿瘤细胞凋亡率,发现石蒜碱对人肝癌HepG-2肿瘤细胞具有显著的抗肿瘤作用;通过对肿瘤细胞膜上主要组成成分进行检测,发现石蒜碱可以改变HepG-2细胞膜主要组成成分,使细胞膜结构发生变化;通过考察石蒜碱对HepG-...     

新型姜黄素结构衍生物抗肝癌细胞增殖作用的研究

采用MTT法对姜黄素结构衍生物（CCM系列化合物）进行抗人肝癌细胞Bel-7402和SMMC-7721活性筛选;利用流式细胞技术和荧光显微镜检测SMMC-7721细胞凋亡及周期分布;采用Western-Blot方法检测SMMC-7721中蛋白caspase-3和剪切后p17的表达.结果表明,化合物CCM-5和CCM-14抗肿瘤活性较好,其对SMMC-7721细胞的凋亡作用呈剂量依赖性,且凋亡率与阴性对照组相比有显著差异（P<0.01）;化合物浓度增高时,G0/G1期细胞减少,S期以及G2/M期细胞增加,凋亡峰SubG1峰增大;两个化合物均可增强caspase-3的表达,随着浓度的提高,caspase-3的表达趋势减弱,而剪切形式p17亚基表达量逐渐提高.因此,姜黄素结构衍生物CCM-5和CCM-14能抑制人肝癌细胞SMMC-7721细胞的增殖,促进凋亡,其作用机制可能与化合物诱导caspase-3活性的增强有关.     

Efficient expression of human factor Ⅸ cDNA in liver mediated by hydrodynamics-based plasmid administration

Hydrodynamics-based administration via tail vein was used to deliver naked plasmid with human factor IX (hFIX) cDNA in 2.2 mL Ringer‘s solution into mice within 7 s. The peak level of expression of hFIX was 2921 ng/mL in mouse plasma. The hFIX cDNA expression increased with increasing the amount of plasmid DNA injected. The peak level of gene expression declined after repeated injection of plasmid (1459 ng/mL). The hFIX cDNA was detected in various organs, but the highest level of gene expression appeared in liver. Transaminase levels and liver histologicalresults showed that rapid intravenous plasmid injection into mice induced transient focal acute liver damage, which was rapidly repaired within 3--10 d. These results suggested that high-level expression of hFIX cDNA can be achieved by hydrodynamics-based plasmid transfer and this method is nowfurther used for gene therapy and gene function study in our lab.