In vitro culture of isolated primary hepatocytes and stem cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells for liver regeneration

Various liver diseases result in terminal hepatic failure, and liver transplantation, cell transplantation and artificial liver support systems are emerging as effective therapies for severe hepatic disease. However, all of these treatments are limited by organ or cell resources, so developing a sufficient number of functional hepatocytes for liver regeneration is a priority. Liver regeneration is a complex process regulated by growth factors (GFs), cytokines, transcription factors (TFs), hormones, oxidative stress products, metabolic networks, and microRNA. It is well-known that the function of isolated primary hepatocytes is hard to maintain; when cultured in vitro, these cells readily undergo dedifferentiation, causing them to lose hepatocyte function. For this reason, most studies focus on inducing stem cells, such as embryonic stem cells (ESCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs), and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), to differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) in vitro. In this review, we mainly focus on the nature of the liver regeneration process and discuss how to maintain and enhance in vitro hepatic function of isolated primary hepatocytes or stem cell-derived HLCs for liver regeneration. In this way, hepatocytes or HLCs may be applied for clinical use for the treatment of terminal liver diseases and may prolong the survival time of patients in the near future.

Influence of assisted reproduction technologies on genomic imprinting of embryos and offspring / 中华医学遗传学杂志

Assisted reproduction technologies (ART) include controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, in vitro maturation of oocytes, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, etc. They have been used for the treatment of impaired fertility but may damage the health of offspring. The ART procedures may alter the epigenetic status of these offspring and DNA methylation may be a crucial mechanism. This paper summarizes epigenetic alterations in ART embryos and offspring, and discusses the risks.

The exploration of establishing the health care resource pool of Chinese medicine / 国际中医中药杂志

With the improvement of health care consciousness,it is very urgent to accelerate the dissemination and learning of health care to prevent disease by using Chinese medicine.The establishment of the health care resource pool of Chinese Medicine is to provide convenience for people to learn the knowledge about health care.The essay is aimed to explore the necessity and feasibility of building the health care resource pool of Chinese Medicine from the aspects of discussing the meaning,predominance,essentials and contents of resources.

Effect of Herba Hedyotis Diffusae on Living Murine Ascites Hepatoma H22 Cells and T Lymphocytes / 广州中医药大学学报

【Objective】To observe the effect of Herba Hedyotis Diffusae(HHD)on the histological features of living murine ascites hepatoma H22 cells as well as CD+4 and CD+8 expression in T lymphocytes.【Methods】Special pathogen free(SPF)Kunming mice were randomized into 4 groups:model group,HHD(25 g/kg)group,Radix Codonopsis(RC,25 g/kg)group,heat-shock group.The murine ascites hepatoma H22 model was established by abdominal transplantation of H22 cells.The histological features of H22 cells from living murine ascites were examined through living mice ascites smear and giemsa staining.The CD+4 and CD+8 expression in ascites T lymphocytes was detected by immunohistochemical method.【Results】H22 cell deformation such as cell membrane incomplete and vesicant,some nucleus being migration and pycnosis was obvious in HHD and heat-shock groups.The expression of both CD+4 and CD+8 expression in T lymphocytes of HHD groups was increased,but only CD+4 expression in RC group and only CD+8 expression in heat-shock group was increased.【Conclusion】HHD exerts some inhibitory-killing effect on living murine H22 cells,and its mechanism may be related to the increase of immune function and to the cytotoxic effect.

Effect of Heat-clearing and Detoxifying Herbs and Tonifying Herbs on Mice Hepatoma Cells Line H_(22) and Their Immunologic Mechanism / 广州中医药大学学报

[Objective] To compare the effects of heat-clearing and detoxifying herbs with that of tonifying herbs on mice hepatoma cells line H22, and to explore their immunologic mechanisms. [Methods] Herba Rabdosiae Rubescentis (HRR) and Herba Scutellariae Barbatae (HSB) were selected as the heat-clearing and detoxifying herbs, and Radix Astragali (RA) as the representative of tonifying herbs. Fifty KM mice were inoculated with hepatoma cells line H22 and then were randomized into five groups: HRR group (30 g?kg-1?d-1 by gavage for 12 days), HSB group (15 g?kg-1?d-1 by gavage for 12 days), RA group (15 g?kg-1?d-1 by gavage for 12 days) , heat-shock group (treated 20 min at 43℃, once every 4 days and three times in all) and model group. Twelve days later, the mice were executed and the ascites smears were prepared. The cell feature in ascites was observed under light microscope and the expression of CD4+ and CD8+ on the cellular membrane of the T lymphocyte in ascites was detected with immunohistochemical method. [Results] A large amount of damaged and apoptotic H22 cells were found in HRR, HSB and heat-shock groups, and the changes of cell feature in RA group were not obvious. The expressions of CD4+ and CD8+ on the membrane of T cells in ascites was increased in HRR and HRB groups, but the expression of CD4+ was increased in RA group, and CD8+ expression was increased in heat-shock group.[Conclusion] Heat-clearing and detoxifying herbs can induce the necrosis and apoptosis of mice hepatoma cells line H22 and the mechanism may be related to the increase of cellular immunity, thus enhancing the body immunity to kill the tumor cells. RA can not kill the tumor cells directly and its antitumor action may be related to the increase of CD4+ expression.