Effect of a hepatocyte growth factor/heparin-immobilized collagen system on albumin synthesis and spheroid formation by hepatocytes

A hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/heparin-immobilized collagen system was used as a synthetic extracellular matrix for hepatocyte culture. The albumin synthesis, nucleus numbers and morphology of the hepatocytes were determined separately to evaluate the hepatocyte number and hepatocyte-specific function under this system. The benefits of the HGF/heparin-immobilized collagen system for hepatocyte culture were confirmed by three types of culture methods in vitro, namely 2D film cultures, 2D gel cultures and 3D gel cultures. In 2D collagen film cultures, hepatocytes exhibited the highest albumin synthesis (1.42 μg/well/day) in HGF/heparin-immobilized collagen films at 7 days of culture. Heparin inhibited hepatocyte adhesion while HGF promoted hepatocyte migration, and spheroid formation was easily detected in HGF/heparin-immobilized collagen films. In 2D collagen gel cultures, albumin synthesis of around 15 μg/well/day was detected and maintained for more than 18 days on HGF/heparin-immobilized collagen gels. Similar findings were obtained in 3D HGF/heparin-immobilized collagen gel cultures, which exhibited albumin synthesis of up to 30 μg/well/day. The albumin synthesis by hepatocytes was two-fold higher in 3D gel cultures compared with 2D gel cultures, and was maintained for over 2 weeks compared with 2D film cultures using the HGF/heparin-immobilized collagen system. Taken together, the HGF/heparin-immobilized collagen system was effective for albumin synthesis by hepatocytes in both 2D film cultures and 3D gel cultures, and therefore shows good potential for tissue engineering use.     

Use of liposome encapsulated hemoglobin as an oxygen carrier for fetal and adult rat liver cell culture

Engineering liver tissue constructs with sufficient cell mass for transplantation implies culturing large numbers of hepatocytes in a reduced volume; however, providing sufficient oxygen to dense cell cultures is still not feasible using only conventional culture medium. Liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin (LEH), an oxygen-carrying blood substitute originally designed for short-term perfusion, may be a good candidate as an oxygen carrier to cultured liver cells. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of maintaining long term hepatocyte cultures using LEH. Primary fetal and adult rat liver cells were directly exposed to LEH for 6 to 14 days in static culture or in a perfused flat plate bioreactor. The functions and viability of adult rat hepatocytes exposed to LEH were not adversely affected in static monolayer culture and were even improved in the bioreactor. However, some cytotoxicity of LEH was observed with fetal rat liver cells after 4 days of culture. LEH, though a suitable oxygen carrier for long-term culture of mature hepatocytes, is not suitable in its present form for perfusing fetal hepatocyte cultures in direct contact with the liposomes; either the LEH will have to be made less toxic or a more sophisticated bioreactor that prevents the direct contact between hepatocytes and perfusates will have to be designed if fetal cells are to be used for liver tissue engineering.     

In vitro proliferation of primary rat hepatocytes expressing ureogenesis activity by coculture with STO cells

A coculture system for in vitro proliferation of rat primary hepatocytes with feeder cells was investigated with the view of constructing a hybrid artificial liver module using human hepatocytes. A mouse cell line, STO, was apparently effective compared with other kinds of feeder cells such as FLS5 and MRC5 in increasing the total cell number in the coculture of rat primary hepatocytes. The parenchymal hepatocyte, which are polygonal cells, spread well as the cultivation progressed. Monitoring of parenchymal hepatocyte colonies under a microscope showed that the area of each colony increased as the single culture and cocultures progressed. The adhesion area per hepatocyte increased little during the coculture with STO cells, while the adhesion area increased markedly in the single culture of hepatocytes. The density of hepatocytes increased more than two times during the coculture for 5 d, while it decreased during the single culture. The production rate of urea by hepatocytes markedly increased during the coculture, while the rate in the single culture was lower than the coculture and increased only slightly. The specific rate of urea production by hepatocytes in the coculture did not decrease even as the hepatocytes grew. Consequently, rat primary hepatocytes could proliferate in vitro by coculture with STO cells without a decrease in urea production activity.     

Growth factor/heparin-immobilized collagen gel system enhances viability of transplanted hepatocytes and induces angiogenesis

Hepatocyte transplantation is being explored as a treatment strategy for end-stage liver disease; however, the main limitation is the insufficient vascularization of transplanted hepatocytes. To overcome this problem, a suitable 3D microenvironment and the types of transplanted cells must be considered for hepatocyte transplantation. In this study, a growth factor (GF)/heparin-immobilized collagen gel-filled polyurethane foam (PUF) scaffold was developed for angiogenesis induction and hepatocyte transplantation. First, a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/heparin-immobilized, collagen-gel-filled PUF scaffold was developed to establish a prevascularized cavity in the subcutaneous space in rats. Second, accompanied by 70% partial hepatectomy (PH), hepatocytes were embedded inside heparin-immobilized, collagen-gel-filled PUF scaffolds, and were transplanted into the VEGF-induced prevascularized cavity. The benefits of using this system were confirmed by using three types of hepatocytes, namely single hepatocyte, hepatocyte spheroids, and fetal hepatocytes. The normalized hemoglobin content and live nucleus numbers were determined separately to evaluate the angiogenesis and viability of transplanted hepatocytes. In summary, after PH pretreatment, transplantation of fetal hepatocyte-embedded, heparin-immobilized, collagen-gel-filled PUF scaffold into a VEGF-induced prevascularized cavity appears to be a promising strategy for future liver tissue engineering.     

The protective role of natural phytoalexin resveratrol on inflammation, fibrosis and regeneration in cholestatic liver injury

Liver injuries can trigger a cascade of inflammatory responses and as a result, initiate the process of hepatic regeneration and fibrogenesis. Resveratrol (RSV) has multiple health‐promoting benefits. This study evaluated the potential protective effects and mechanism of RSV as related to cholestatic liver injury. RSV was given (4 mg/kg/day, i.p.) for either 3 days or 7 days after bile duct ligation (BDL) injury. RSV significantly reduced serum ALT, AST but not T‐bil on Day 3. At this early stage of injury, RSV significantly reduced TNF‐α and IL‐6 mRNA and decreased the number of Kupffer cells (CD68⁺) recruited in the injured liver. RSV decreased hepatic fibrosis and reduced collagen Iα1 and TIMP‐1 mRNA on Day 7. At the later stages of injury, RSV increased the number of Ki67⁺ hepatocytes indicating that RSV promoted hepatocyte proliferation. Additionally, it resulted in decreased expression of 4‐hydroxynonenal and increased expression of the hepatocyte growth factor protein and mRNA in the RSV‐treated BDL group. Meanwhile, RSV reduced the mortality rate of BDL mice. In conclusion, RSV attenuated inflammation and reduced Kupffer cells activation. RSV decreased fibrosis and promoted hepatocyte regeneration, which increased the survival of BDL mice. RSV was beneficial for the treatment of cholestatic liver injury.     

Evaluation of drug toxicity with hepatocytes cultured in a micro-space cell culture system

A micro-space cell culture system was recently developed in which cells such as hepatocytes can be cultured and formed into a multicellular three-dimensional (3D) architecture. In this study, we assessed the performance of HepG2 cells cultured in this micro-space cell culture system in a drug toxicity test, and evaluated the effects of micro-space culture on their hepatocyte-specific functions. The micro-space cell culture facilitated the formation of 3D HepG2 cell architecture. HepG2 cells cultured in a micro-space culture plate exhibited increased albumin secretion and enhanced mRNA expression levels of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme compared to those cultured in a monolayer culture. When the cells were exposed to acetaminophen, a hepatotoxic drug, the damage to the HepG2 cells grown in micro-space culture was greater than the damage to the HepG2 cells grown in monolayer culture. In addition, human primary hepatocytes grown in micro-space culture also exhibited increased albumin secretion, enhanced CYP mRNA expression levels and increased sensitivity to acetaminophen compared to those grown in monolayer culture. These results suggest that this micro-space culture method enhances the hepatocyte-specific functions of hepatocytes, including drug-metabolizing enzyme activities, making hepatocytes grown in the micro-space culture system a useful tool for evaluating drug toxicity in vitro.     

表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯体内外调节大鼠胆固醇代谢的机制

目的：探讨表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯（epigallocatechin gallate,EGCG）对大鼠胆固醇代谢的影响及相 关机制。方法：在建立Caco-2细胞和大鼠肝细胞培养以及Wistar大鼠高脂模型基础上,研究胆汁酸跨膜转运抑制、 胆固醇摄取和外排、血清胆固醇水平变化以及胆固醇代谢相关基因表达水平,探讨EGCG对大鼠胆固醇代谢可能 的调节机制。结果：EGCG显著抑制甘氨胆酸钠和牛磺胆酸钠在Caco-2细胞内的跨膜转运（P＜0.05）;显著干预 Caco-2细胞对胆固醇的摄取（P＜0.05）,同时增强胆固醇在大鼠肝细胞中的外排。动物实验结果表明：EGCG组大 鼠血清中总胆固醇、甘油三酯及低密度脂蛋白胆固醇浓度与模型组相比显著下降（P＜0.05）,高密度脂蛋白胆 固醇浓度明显升高（P＜0.05）;肝脏苏木精-伊红染色显示EGCG组大鼠肝细胞脂肪变性程度降低;与模型组相 比,EGCG组大鼠肝脏中羟甲基戊二酸单酰辅酶A还原酶表达水平较低;胆固醇调节结合蛋白2、肝脏X受体α和 胆固醇7α羟化酶基因表达水平显著升高（P＜0.05）。结论：EGCG对体内胆固醇代谢的调节机制与其抑制肠道 胆汁酸重吸收、干扰胆固醇摄取、增强肝脏胆固醇外排以及调控相关基因表达有关,EGCG对胆固醇代谢具有综 合调节功能。     

乳酸菌对高糖高脂2型糖尿病小鼠血脂的影响

目的：研究两株乳酸菌对糖尿病小鼠血糖、血脂、血清炎症因子、肝脏抗氧化水平、胰腺病理变化和附睾脂肪组织白细胞介素-10（interleukin-10,IL-10）及脂联素（adiponectin,Adipoq）基因表达的影响。方法：通过降胆固醇、耐酸及耐胆盐等体外实验从6 株乳酸菌中筛选降脂较好的2 株乳酸菌。利用链脲佐菌素（streptozotocin,STZ）结合高糖高脂饲料的方法建立小鼠糖尿病模型。将100 只雄性BALB/c小鼠随机分为4 组,每组25 只,对照组（N）（正常饮食）、模型组（M）（高糖高脂饮食）、SY13菌组（SY13）（高糖高脂饮食外加SY13菌液灌胃）、36号菌组（D36）（高糖高脂饮食外加36号菌液灌胃）,分别在灌胃6、10 周和14 周时处死小鼠,动态检测小鼠血糖、血脂等相关生化指标水平,利用苏木精-伊红染色观察胰腺组织病理变化,通过逆转录实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应方法检测附睾脂肪组织中IL-10和Adipoq基因的mRNA表达情况。结果：筛选出干酪乳酸菌SY13和D36有较强的降胆固醇、耐酸和耐胆盐能力。与M组相比,通过一段时间菌液的灌胃,显著抑制了小鼠血糖水平和血清中总胆固醇、甘油三酯、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平的上升（P＜0.05）,提高了高密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平和抗炎因子IL-10水平（P＜0.05）,不同程度提高了肝脏谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶、超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化氢酶活力,显著降低了丙二醛含量（P＜0.05）,改善了小鼠糖代谢紊乱状况,明显减轻了胰岛和腺泡细胞病变情况,脂肪组织中IL-10和Adipoq基因表达水平显著提高。结论：乳酸菌SY13和D36能够显著改善糖高脂饮食联合STZ诱导的小鼠糖脂代谢。     

Hepatic differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells in a three-dimensional culture system using polyurethane foam

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are a type of pluripotent stem cell line isolated from the inner cell mass of blastocysts and characterized by an almost unlimited self-renewal capacity and differentiation potential in vitro into multiple cell lineages. Therefore the use of ES cells has recently received much attention as a novel cell source for various hybrid artificial organs. To use ES cells, it is necessary to be able to produce functional matured cells from ES cells in large quantities. In this study, we applied polyurethane foam (PUF)/spheroid culture, which enables spontaneous spheroid formation and mass cultivation of cultured cells, to mouse ES cells for hepatic differentiation. Mouse ES cells spontaneously formed spherical multicellular aggregates (spheroids) in the pores of the PUF within 1 d. To induce hepatic differentiation, specific growth factors were added to the culture medium. Mouse ES cells proliferated by day 20, and high cell density (about 1.0 x 10(8) cells/cm(3)-PUF) was achieved. Differentiating ES cells expressed endodermal-specific genes, such as alpha-fetoprotein, albumin and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase. The activity of ammonia removal of mouse ES cells per unit volume of the module was detected by day 21 and increased with culture time. Maximum expression levels were comparable to those of primary mouse hepatocytes. Mouse ES cells could express liver-specific functions at high level because of the high cell density culture and hepatic differentiation. These results suggest that the PUF/spheroid culture method could be useful to develop mass differentiation cultures.     

小米谷糠多肽对肝损伤及癌前病变的抑制作用

目的：观察小米谷糠多肽的抗肿瘤和抑制化学性肝损伤作用。方法：分别用菠萝蛋白酶、木瓜蛋白酶、537酸性蛋白酶水解小米谷糠,得到3 种多肽;先用噻唑蓝法检测3 种谷糠多肽的体外抗肿瘤作用,然后用抗肿瘤效果最好的多肽喂食经氨基比林-NaNO2诱导的肝损伤小鼠,并作肝组织学观察。结果：当菠萝蛋白酶水解的谷糠多肽质量浓度为50 mg/mL时,S180和H22肿瘤细胞的抑制率可达到56.28%和53.73%,该多肽在10 g/（kg·d）剂量可显著降低小鼠肝脏丙二醛含量和血清谷草转氨酶、谷丙转氨酶活性（P＜0.01）,并提高肝脏谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活性（P＜0.01）。组织切片显示,模型组小鼠肝细胞损伤严重,谷糠多肽高剂量组动物的肝细胞形态基本正常。结论：菠萝蛋白酶水解的谷糠多肽具有抑制肝损伤及癌前期病变的作用。     

Novel function of rare catechin, epigallocatechin-3-(3''-O-methyl)gallate, against cold injury in primary rat hepatocytes

Epigallocatechin-3-(3'-O-methyl)gallate (EGCg-3'-OMe) is a rare component in green tea leaf and its bioactivity is hardly known. In this paper, we report that EGCg-3'-OMe has the function for cold preservation of primary rat hepatocytes. Confluent primary cultured hepatocytes were suspended in a storage solution, culture medium or cell banker (CB). EGCg-3'-OMe was tested as a supplement in the storage solution together with a general cryoprotectant, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). After 24 h cold preservation of cells at 4 degrees C followed by 1 h rewarming, cell viability and urea-synthesizing activity, one of the most important liver functions, were measured. EGCg-3'-OMe dose-dependently maintained cell viability and this effect was equal to that of a commercial CB at the highest concentration. Cell viability was also maintained after a further 24 h incubation at 37 degrees C of the cold-preserved hepatocytes. Conversely, urea-synthesizing activity was dose-dependently reduced by EGCg-3'-OMe. Cell protection by EGCg-3'-OMe due to the decrease in metabolic activity in cold-preserved cells was suggested. The decreased hepatic function of cells caused by EGCg-3'-OMe was rescued after a further 24 h incubation of cells at 37 degrees C.     

Effects of Theabrownin from Pu-erh Tea on the Metabolism of Serum Lipids in Rats: Mechanism of Action

Abstract: Theabrownin (TB), one of the main bioactive components in pu-erh tea, has a significant blood lipid-lowering effect in hyperlipidemic rats. Therefore, it was hypothesized that TB would regulate the activity of key enzymes involved in lipid metabolism and accelerate the catabolism of exogenous cholesterol in rats fed a high fat diet. A total of 90 Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal control group (Group I), a high fat diet group (Group II), and high-fat diet plus TB group (Group III). A total of 10 rats were selected from each group and killed at 15, 30, or 45 d after starting the study for analysis. After feeding 45 d, the contents of TC, TG, and LDL-C levels in Group II were increased by 54.9%, 93.1%, and 134.3% compared with those in Group III, respectively, and the content of HDL-C in Group II was decreased by 55.7%. These effects were inhibited in the rats in Group III, which exhibited no significant differences in these levels compared with Group I, indicating that TB can prevent hyperlipidemia in rats fed a high fat diet. TB enhanced the activity of hepatic lipase and hormone-sensitive triglyceride lipase (HSL) and increased the HSL mRNA expression in liver tissue and epididymis tissue. The HL activity in serum of Group III was increased by 147.6% compared with that in Group II. The content of cholesterol and bile acid in the feces of rats was increased by 21.11- and 4.08-fold by TB. It suggested that TB could promote the transformation and excretion of dietary cholesterol of rats in vivo.     

The mixed coculture effect of primary rat hepatocytes and bone marrow cells is caused by soluble factors derived from bone marrow cells

Heterospheroids consisting of hepatocytes and bone marrow cells (BMCs) are formed by the mixed coculture of these cells and enhance the expression and maintenance of the liver-specific functions of hepatocytes. Not only the soluble factors derived from these cells, but also functional organoid (heterospheroid) formation, are considered to underlie this coculture effect. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to clarify the mechanism of this co-culture effect. We performed hepatocyte monoculture with conditioned media prepared from hepatocyte cultures, BMC cultures and a coculture of hepatocytes and BMCs. When using any type of conditioned medium, no hepatocyte spheroids formed, and the hepatocytes formed a monolayer. In addition, an effect for these conditioned media was shown in terms of the albumin production and ammonia metabolism activities of the hepatocytes; conditioned medium from BMCs showed the strongest effect. The monocultured hepatocytes in the conditioned medium derived from BMCs showed equivalent albumin production and ammonia metabolism activities to the cocultured spheroids of hepatocytes and BMCs. Therefore, it was determined that the effect of the coculture of hepatocytes and BMCs was caused by soluble factors derived from BMCs.     

人参多糖对氧化应激损伤肝细胞的保护作用机制研究

目的:以氧化应激损伤模型,通过对人参中物质基础的筛选,研究其对氧化应激造成的肝细胞损伤的保护作用及其可能的作用机制的初步探讨。方法:采用浓度为25 μmol/L的过氧化氢溶液建立肝细胞损伤模型,对人参中总蛋白、总多糖、总皂苷的保护作用进行筛选。在此基础上,采用流式细胞术检测其凋亡程度、线粒体膜电位的改变,活性氧的含量变化。并采用ELISA法测肝糖原,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、丙二醛(MDA)、葡萄糖-6-磷酸酶(G6P)、磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧激酶(PEPCK)及ATP酶等指标的变化情况。结果:经过氧化氢诱导后的肝细胞,细胞活力极显著降低(P<0.01),通过对比人参中活性成分,发现人参多糖的保护作用较强,且呈现浓度依赖性;与模型组比较,人参多糖高剂量组大鼠肝细胞中MDA含量非常显著降低(P<0.001);中、高剂量组大鼠肝细胞中SOD含量显著升高(P<0.05);低剂量组大鼠肝细胞中G6P含量显著升高(P<0.05),中、高剂量组中G6P含量极显著升高(P<0.01);中剂量组大鼠肝细胞中PEPCK的含量显著升高(P<0.05),高剂量组中PEPCK的含量极显著升高(P<0.01);低、中剂量组大鼠肝细胞中ATP酶含量极显著升高(P<0.01);中、高剂量组大鼠肝细胞中肝糖原含量显著升高(P<0.05)。结论:人参多糖通过提高肝细胞中ATP酶的活力,升高线粒体膜电位来恢复肝细胞线粒体的功能,通过恢复G6P与PEPCK的含量来恢复肝脏糖异生的功能,同时通过升高SOD,降低MDA来减弱氧化应激带来的损伤,为后续研究氧化应激造成肝损伤提供一定的基础。     

铁皮石斛对缺血再灌注诱导的心律失常的保护作用

为研究甘氨酸（Glycine,Gly）对肝脏IGF-1表达和分泌的影响,本文一方面采用不同浓度Gly离体处理HepG2肝细胞,另一方面采用小鼠尾静脉注射1.0 g/kg Gly和等摩尔Ala,0.5 h和1 h后采集血液、肝脏和肌肉样品。研究采用定量PCR检测了IGF-1以及IGFBPs基因表达水平的影响,同时运用Western blot法分析了肝细胞和肝脏生长激素受体通路（JAK2/STAT5）与肌肉IGF-I受体通路（ERK/Akt/mTOR）的变化。研究结果发现,不同浓度的Gly能剂量依赖性提高HepG2细胞IGF-1的蛋白和mRNA表达水平;1.0 g/kg Gly能显著提高小鼠血清中的IGF-1和白蛋白含量,且极显著提高肝脏IGF-1和IGFBP-3 mRNA水平,下调IGFBP-1 mRNA水平。细胞和活体试验均表明,Gly能够有效激活肝细胞和肝脏JAK2/STAT5信号通路,同时提高腓肠肌IGF-I受体信号通路磷酸化水平。这些研究说明甘氨酸可能直接提高肝脏生长激素受体信号通路敏感性,从而促进IGF-1的表达和分泌。研究结果为深入揭示甘氨酸的分子营养学功能和作用机制提供了实验依据。     

D-柠檬烯对大鼠酒精性肝损伤脂质代谢紊乱的影响

探讨D-柠檬烯（D-limonene）对大鼠酒精性肝损伤脂质代谢紊乱的保护作用及可能作用机制,利用持续酒精灌胃的方法建立大鼠酒精肝损伤模型,分为A、B、C、D、E、F、G共7 组。A组为空白对照组,每日给予蒸馏水灌胃,前2 周8 mL/（kg·d）,后4 周12 mL/（kg·d）;B组为酒精模型组,每日灌胃体积分数为50%的乙醇,前2 周8 mL/（kg·d）,后4 周12 mL/（kg·d）;C、D、E组分别为D-柠檬烯低、中、高剂量组,每日分别灌胃D-柠檬烯100、200、400 mL/（kg·d）,其中D-柠檬烯与A、B组等量的50%的乙醇混合后灌胃;F组为水和D-柠檬烯空白高剂量组,每日给予D-柠檬烯400 mL/（kg·d）;G组为甘利欣药物对照组,灌胃量200 mL/（kg·d）。HE染色和电镜观察肝组织形态结构和肝组织超微结构的变化,测定血清谷丙转氨酶（alanine transaminase,ALT）、谷草转氨酶（aspartate transaminase,AST）、碱性磷酸酶（phosoporic acid,ALP）、胆碱酯酶（cholinesterase,CHE）、甘油三酯（triglyceride,TG）、胆固醇（cholesterol,CHO）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（low densitylipoprotein-cholesterol,LDL-C）水平。结果电镜下观察到A组肝细胞结构正常,核呈圆形或椭圆,线粒体形态正常。B组肝细胞次级溶酶体数量增加,线粒体形状不规则,脂滴多。C组可见少量脂滴,高尔基体正常,线粒体清楚。D组少量脂滴,胆小管有内容物,线粒体正常。E组线粒体高尔基体正常,少量脂滴,核圆。F组细胞器无异常,少量脂滴。G组少量脂滴,偶见溶酶,体线粒体正常。B组大鼠血清ALT、AST、ALP、CHE、TG、CHO、LDL-C均高于空白对照组,差异显著（P＜0.05）;F组大鼠血清所测各指标与空白对照组无明显差异;而D-柠檬烯低、中、高剂量干预组和酒精模型组比较,血清所测各指标水平均有不同程度地降低,其中D-柠檬烯中、高剂量干预组血清所测各指标水平明显低于酒精模型组,差异显著（P＜0.05）。结论：过量酒精摄入引起的肝组织超微结构病理损伤与升高血清ALP、CHE、ALT、AST、TG、CHO、LDL-C水平,在D-柠檬烯干预下有所减轻和降低。因此,D-柠檬烯可调节过量酒精摄入造成的脂质代谢紊乱。