Mesenchymal stem cells alleviate liver injury induced by chronic-binge ethanol feeding in mice via release of TSG6 and suppression of STAT3 activation.

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a population of pluripotent cells that might be used for treatment of liver disease. However, the efficacy of MSCs for mice with alcoholic hepatitis (AH) and its underlying mechanism remains unclear. METHODS: MSCs were isolated from the bone marrow (BM) of 4-6-week-old male C57BL/6 N mice. AH was induced in female mice by chronic-binge ethanol feeding for 10 days. The mice were given intraperitoneal injections of MSCs with or without transfection or AG490, recombinant mouse tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-stimulated gene/protein 6 (rmTSG-6), or saline at day 10. Blood samples and hepatic tissues were collected at day 11. Various assays such as biochemistry, histology, and flow cytometry were performed. RESULTS: MSCs reduced AH in mice, decreasing liver/body weight ratio, liver injury, blood and hepatic lipids, malondialdehyde, interleukin (IL)-6, and TNF-ɑ, but increasing glutathione, IL-10, and TSG-6, compared to control mice. Few MSCs engrafted into the inflamed liver. Knockdown of TSG-6 in MSCs significantly attenuated their effects, and injection of rmTSG-6 achieved similar effects to MSCs. The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was activated in mice with AH, and MSCs and rmTSG-6 inhibited the STAT3 activation. Injection of MSCs plus AG490 obtained more alleviation of liver injury than MSCs alone. CONCLUSIONS: BM-MSCs injected into mice with AH do not engraft the liver, but they secrete TSG-6 to reduce liver injury and to inhibit STAT3 activation.

[Association between job stress and blood lipids among university staff in Yunnan province].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the association between job stress (effort-reward imbalance model)and blood lipids among university staff in Yunnan province. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1244 university staff in Yunnan province. The job stress was measured by the validated Chinese self-reported Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire (ERI). Blood lipids were measured in all participated staff members. RESULTS: After adjustment for relevant confounding factors, it was found that the risk of increased serum triglyceride was 3.5 folds higher in male staffs with high extrinsic effort compared those with low extrinsic effort (OR = 3.45, 95%CI: 1.32 - 9.04) while the risk of increased serum low density lipoprotein-cholesterol was 2.9 folds higher in male staffs with high overcommitment compared those with low overcommitment (OR = 2.86, 95%CI: 1.03 - 7.96). The risk of elevated serum triglyceride increased in proportion to increasing job stress: 3.5 folds increase in male staffs with moderate job stress (OR = 3.43, 95%CI: 1.24 - 9.53) and 4 folds increase in male staffs with high job stress (OR = 4.16, 95%CI: 1.42 - 12.17) compared those with low job stress. However, there was no significant association between job stress and lipid profile in female staffs. CONCLUSION: Our results show that job stress (effort-reward imbalance) is positively associated with abnormal blood lipids in male university staffs.

[An epidemiological study of the neoplasm mortality in Gejiu residents from 1996 to 2005].

OBJECTIVE: To assessment the trend of the mortality of the neoplasm among the residents in Gejiu city of Yunnan province and to provide scientific evidences for the neoplasm prevention. METHODS: Data of mortality of the neoplasm from 1996 to 2005 was collected and analyzed through a retrospective survey. RESULTS: The mortality was going up in the recent epidemiological surveys. The increase trend was showed on the mortality from 1996 to 2005. The mortality was 53.25 per 100,000 of 1996 increased to 70.58 per 100,000 in 2005. The mortality in female was 23.76 per 100,000 in 1996 increased to 50.57 per 100,000 of 2005. CONCLUSION: The neoplasm is still a leading disease in Gejiu city. The main cancer was lung cancer in the neoplasms. The mortality of the neoplasma in the town residents was higher than the countryside. It is necessary to enhance neoplasm prevention.