Objective To investigate whether protease inhibitor (ulinastatin, UTI) can protect liver from ischemiareperfusion injury in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing hepatectomy after hepatic inflow occlusion. Methods A prospective randomized control study was designed. Thirtyone HCC patients undergoing hepatectomy after hepatic inflow blood occlusion were randomly divided into the following two groups. UTI group (n=16)， 1×105 units of ulinastatin was given intravenously in operation, then the dosage was continuously used twice a day up to 5 days postoperatively. Control group (n=15), the patients received other liver protective drugs. Liver function, plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and cortisol level were compared between these two groups. Results The postoperative liver function of the UTI group was significantly improved compared with the control group. For example, on the third postoperative day the aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and total bilirubin level in the UTI group were significantly lower than those in the control group, respectively (P＜0.05). On the first postoperative day, the plasma CRP concentration in the UTI group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P＜0.01). The plasma cortisol level in the control group markedly increased compared with the level before operation(P=0.046). However, there was no significant difference in the UTI group between before and after operation. Conclusion Ulinastatin can effectively protect liver from ischemia/reperfusion injury in HCC patients undergoing hepatectomy performed after hepatic inflow occlusion. Also, it can relieve the surgical stress for patients.
Objective To explore the effect of Tie-2 small interference RNA (siRNA) treatment in human hepatoma transplanted subcutaneously in nude mice. Methods Tumor cells were implanted in the hind flank of male nude mice of 6 weeks. Tumor-bearing mice were divided into two groups （gene therapy group and control group） and injected intra-tumorally with Tie-2-siRNA/Lipofectamine and saline/Lipofectamine respectively. The tumor volume and weight, serum AFP and microvessel density (MVD) and the histological change of the tumor were tested after gene therapy. Results The growth inhibitory rates in gene therapy group were 26.94%， 53.01% and 68.91% on day 4， 7 and 10 after gene therapy respectively. The tumor volumes of gene therapy group (118.47, 111.57 and 104.59 mm3) were smaller than those of the control group (162.17, 237.46 and 336.41 mm3) respectively (P＜0.01), and the weight of tumor in gene therapy group was lighter than that of the control group 〔(0.89±0.09) g vs (1.24±0.03), P＜0.01〕. The AFP value in gene therapy group was obviously lower than that of the control group 〔(107.66±24.13) ng/ml vs (266.08±50.96) ng/ml, P＜0.01〕. There was significant diference of MVD between the gene therapy group (34.63±4.07) and the control group (81.01±9.44) with the method of immunohistochemitry (P＜0.01). Histopathology in the control group showed that the tumor volumes were bigger, and a high atypic of tumor cells were seen. The main pathological changes in tumor tissue of gene therapy group were necrosis, there were massive necrosis. The apoptosis cells were seen in the both of necrosis and non-necrosis areas in only 2 mice of gene therapy group. Conclusion Tie-2-siRNA inhibits the tumor growth and tumor angiogenesis， and is a possible new approach for liver neoplasm gene therapy.
Objective To study the effects of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in the course of hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury (HIRI), and analyze its mechanism. Methods The relationship between HSPs and HIRI was studied by reviewing literatures. Results HSPs was a kind of stress protein induced after cell was sitmulated by the stress. It could improve body′s tolerance to tough situation. Though hepatic ischemia reperfusion usually results in serious hepatic injury, at the same time it could induce can increase the production of HSPs that can protect liver from and lessen ischemia reperfusion injury. Conclusion HSPs can improve the tolerance to HIRI and lessen injury. In addition, HSPs is thought to be markers of HIRI, and can be used as a efficient indicator to test the level of hepatic injury and assess prognosis.
Objective To detect the tissue factor (TF) mRNA expression in hepatocellular carcinoma and to elucidate its significance. Methods TF mRNA was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） in 27 cases of human hepatocellular carcinoma tissue specimen with their adjacent tissues and in 27 non-tumorous process tissues. Then the relationship between mRNA expression and pathological data were analyzed. Results The expression and the relative expression intensity of TF in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues were 62.96%（17/27） and 0.567±0.268 respectively, which were significantly higher than those in their adjacent tissues 〔33.33%(9/27), 0.469±0.184〕 and in 27 non-tumorous process tissue 〔29.63%(8/27), 0.353±0.121〕, Plt;0.05. The relative expression intensity of TF were associated with tumor size, intrahepatic and extrahepatic metastasis and portal vein invasion, but unrelated to gender, AFP level, differentiation, HBsAg, cirrhosis, number of tumor lesions, and lymph node metastasis (Pgt;0.05). Conclusion Expression of TF mRNA were significantly higher in hepatocellular carcinoma and in the invasive and metastatic tissue, which indicated that TF may play an important role in carcinogenesis, invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Objective To investigate the extent of hepatic ischemia reperfusion (HIR) injury in rat cirrhotic liver under different ischemic time，and find the time limit under which the rat with cirrhotic liver could tolerate. Methods At first，the cirrhosis of the rat were induced by carbon tetrachloride（CCl4）injected subcutaneously. Then these rats were randomly divided into four groups. Group A(n=6) was made by sham operation, group B, C, D(n=16) were respectively given 20, 30, 40min hepatic warm ischemia. The 7day survival rate, AST, ALT, TNF and liver, pulmonary pathology were observed. Results The 7-day survival rate was decreased with the increase of hepatic ischemic time. The survival rate of group B, C, D were respectively 100%, 60%, 40%. Between group C, D and group B there were significant differences（P＜0.05）. The level of AST and ALT in group D were （2 448.4±942.3）u/L and （1 189.0±403.4）u/L respectively, and those in group C were （2 185.1±1 732.9）u/L and （1 183.5±707.2）u/L respectively, which were higher than those in group B and A significantly（P＜0.01）. The level of TNF was increased significantly 4hr after reperfusion, as compared with that before operation 〔(0.177±0.139）u/ml〕, P＜0.01. TNF of group B, C, D were （0.399±0.216）u/ml, （0.671±0.351）u/ml and （0.789±0.371）u/ml respectively. At the same time the level of TNF in group C, D was higher than that in group B, A significantly（P＜0.01）. Liver and lung pathology showed increased damage with increasing ischemia. Conclusion Hepatic injury is induced by HIR in rats with cirrhotic liver, and its severity increases with the increase of ischemic time. There is a certain hepatic ischemic time between 20min and 30min, which can be tolerated by the rats with cirrhotic liver. TNF may be used as an indicator，showing the degree of HIR injury and foreseeing the result of injury.
Objective To probe into the roles of inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate (IP3) and bcl-2 gene expression in inhabiting hepatocellular carcinoma of nude mice by quercetin. Methods Animals with hepatocellular carcinoma in quercetin group were treated with injection peritoneum of quercetin 50 mg/（kg·d ） for 3 weeks, while which in control group were treated with 0.4% DMSO of RPMI 1640 0.05 ml/（g·d）. Then the volume and the weight of tumors were measured, IP3, bcl-2 mRNA and bcl-2 protein were assayed by IP3-［3H］ Birtrak Assay, RT-PCR and Western blot respectively. Results The volume and weight of tumors in quercetin group were lower than those in control group 〔（15.8±10.1） mm3 vs. （52.3±26.5） mm3 in volume, （44.8±10.4） mg vs.（91.3±31.4） mg in weight， P＜0.01〕. Content of IP3 in quercetin group was lower than that in control group 〔（13.4±1.4） pmol/mg prot vs. （35.3±6.6） pmol/mg prot， P＜0.01〕. There was no significant difference in bcl-2 mRNA expression between quercetin group and control group 〔RI （the gray degree multiply area of bcl-2 /the gray degree multiply area of β-actin）： 0.55±0.05 vs. 0.79±0.19， P＞0.05〕， but the expression of bcl-2 protein in quercetin group was lower than that in control group (RI: 1.07±0.12 vs. 6.69±1.80, P＜0.01). Conclusion Quercetin can inhabit the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma tansplanted into liver of nude mice by reducing IP3 production and down-regulating bcl-2 gene expression.
【Abstract】ObjectiveTo investigate the inhibitory effects and the mechanisms of octreotide (OCT) on the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MethodsBel7402 HCC cells were studied for proliferative ability by MTT assay, morphology by light microscopy, adhesive and invasive ability by cell adhesion and “wound strack” experiments. Immunofluorescence flow cytometry was used for study of cMet expression and cell cycle as well. Furthermore, the effects of OCT on tumor growth metastasis were investigated in nude mice with implanted HCC. The expression of cMet in implanted tumor cells was studied by immunohistochemistry. ResultsWith OCT treatment, the proliferative ability of Bel7402 cells and cell morphology didn’t change. The adhesive and invasive ability decreased compared with no OCT treatment cells (P＜0.05). The ratio of G0/G1 cells increased markedly (P＜0.05). The proportion of Bel7402 cells expressing cMet was reduced significantly (P＜0.05). The growth of implanted tumor was inhibited with OCT treatment (P＜0.05). The intensity of cMet expression in OCT group was remarkably weaker than that in control group. In addition, no recurrence and metastasis was found in OCT group 7 weeks after curative resection of xenografts, while 3 cases in controd group were observed to have the recurrence and metastasis. The intensity of cMet immunolabeling in the metastatic tumors was higher than that in xenografts of control group, but the difference was not significant. ConclusionOCT inhibits the growth of HCC by downregulation of cMet.
【Abstract】ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of rhGH on hypoalbuminemia in cirrhotic rats after partial hepatectomy. MethodsThirty rats were randomly divided into normal control group (n=6), liver cirrhosis group (LC group, n=6), liver cirrhosis and hepatectomy group (LCH group,n=6), PN (parenteral nutrition) group (n=6， given PN after hepatectomy) and rhGH+PN group (n=6,given rhGH and PN after hepatectomy). Liver function and blood glucose were measured. The expression of ALB mRNA was detected by RTPCR. Liver Ki67 immunohistochemistry was studied. ResultsCompared with PN group, serum ALP was lower; serum ALB and blood glucose were higher in rhGH+PN group. The expression of hepatic ALB mRNA was higher, and hepatic Ki67 labeling index was higher as well in this group. ConclusionrhGH can improve hypoalbuminemia after partial hepatectomy in cirrhotic rats with partial hepatectomy.
【Abstract】Objective To study the antitumor activity of HSVtk/CD combinative gene toward human cholangiocarcinoma in vivo. Methods Nude mouse models with transplanted subcutaneous cholangiocarcinoma were constructed and divided into 4 groups randomly, each group had 8 mice. Adenovirus solution free from suicide gene was injected in subcutaneous tumors of each mouse of control group. Adenovirus solution containing cytosine deaminase (CD), thymidine kinase (tk) and HSVtk/CD fusional gene were injected into single suicide gene either HSVtk or CD was transinfected into the tumor cells by injecting viras into subcutaneous tumor of mice of CD gene,tk gene and fused CD and tk gene group respectively. 24 hours after the injection, 5fluorocytosine (5FC) and ganciclovir (GCV) were injected introabdominally in each mouse. Growth of the tumors were monitored.Results Tumor growth of the genetransfection groups was suppressed in different degrees. Compared with the control group, the suppressing rates of the genetransfection groups were 41.2%, 55.7% and 70.0% respectively (P＜0.05). Histological examination showed good tumor growth in the control group, and tumor necrosis in the other 3 groups, particularly obvious in the group transfected with pAd(HSVtk/CD).Conclusion Combinative gene system has a b antitumor effect on cholangiocarcinoma in vivo. But it’s not powerful enough to eliminate tumor thoroughly because of insufficient “Bystander effect”.
ObjectiveTo study the expression of p27 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its clinical significance.MethodsFortyfive specimens of HCC and 30 specimens of adjacent noncancerous lesions obtained from 45 patients who underwent surgery were examined for p27 expression by immunohistochemistry SABC method. The diameter of tumor ranged from 1 cm to 19 cm (d ≤5 cm, 9 samples; 5 cmlt;d≤10 cm, 19 samples; d＞10 cm, 17 samples). These tumors were graded according to the criteria described by EdmondsonSteiner: highdifferentiated HCC group (Grade Ⅰ＋Ⅱ), 26 samples; lowdifferentiated HCC group (Grade Ⅲ＋Ⅳ), 19 samples. According to the clinicopathological features: 19 samples were poorly encapsulated, 15 samples had portal invasion, 11 samples had extrahepatic metastasis, 12 samples had intrahepatic metastasis; all of the above were classified as the invasive and metastatic group, while the others were classified as the noninvasive and nonmetastatic group. ResultsThe average labeling index (LI) of p27 in HCC was significantly higher than that of adjacent noncancerous lesions (45.87±14.21 vs 33.77±12.92, Plt;0.001). The LI of p27 in lowdifferentiated HCC group (stage Ⅲ＋Ⅳ) was significantly lower than that of highdifferentiated group (stage Ⅰ＋Ⅱ), 34.46±12.29 vs 52.80±11.36 (Plt;0.001). The LI of p27 had significant difference between the large ones (d＞10 cm, 37.59±13.12) and the small ones (d≤5 cm, 53.28±15.17 or 5 cmlt;d≤10 cm, 49.50±10.96) (Plt;0.05). The LI of p27 in the invasive and metastatic group was significantly lower than that in the noninvasive and nonmetastatic group (41.42±12.86 vs 51.44±14.10, Plt;0.05).ConclusionThe expression of p27 is more frequently detected in HCC than in adjacent noncancerous lesions. It indicates that p27 might be a compensatory factor during HCC carcinogenesis. The LI of p27 significantly decreases in poor differentiation group, invasive and metastatic group. It indicates that p27 might be related with the differentiation, invasion and metastasis of HCC.