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You H, Wang X, Ma L, Zhang F, Zhang H, Wang Y, Pan X, Zheng K, Kong F, Tang R. Insights into the impact of hepatitis B virus on hepatic stellate cell activation. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:70. [PMID: 37041599 PMCID: PMC10088164 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01091-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
During chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, hepatic fibrosis is a serious pathological condition caused by virus-induced liver damage. The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is a central event in the occurrence and progression of liver fibrosis. Although accumulating evidence has shown that HBV directly stimulates HSC activation, whether the virus infects and replicates in HSCs remains controversial. Inflammation is one of the obvious characteristics of chronic HBV infection, and it has been demonstrated that persistent inflammation has a predominant role in triggering and maintaining liver fibrosis. In particular, the regulation of HSC activation by HBV-related hepatocytes via various inflammatory modulators, including TGF-β and CTGF, in a paracrine manner has been reported. In addition to these inflammation-related molecules, several inflammatory cells are essential for the progression of HBV-associated liver fibrosis. Monocytes, macrophages, Th17 cells, NK cells, as well as NKT cells, participate in the modulation of HBV-related liver fibrosis by interacting with HSCs. This review summarizes current findings on the effects of HBV and the relevant molecular mechanisms involved in HSC activation. Because HSC activation is essential for liver fibrosis, targeting HSCs is an attractive therapeutic strategy to prevent and reverse hepatic fibrosis induced by HBV infection. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjuan You
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xing Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lihong Ma
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fulong Zhang
- Imaging Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Taian, China
| | - Huanyang Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuxin Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiucheng Pan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Kuiyang Zheng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Basic Medical Sciences Education, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fanyun Kong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Renxian Tang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Basic Medical Sciences Education, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
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Oh HR, Ko MK, Son D, Ki YW, Kim SI, Lee SY, Kang KW, Cheon GJ, Hwang DW, Youn H. Activated Natural Killer Cell Inoculation Alleviates Fibrotic Liver Pathology in a Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Cirrhosis Mouse Model. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11041090. [PMID: 37189708 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11041090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play a detrimental role in liver fibrosis progression. Natural killer (NK) cells are known to selectively recognize abnormal or transformed cells via their receptor activation and induce target cell apoptosis and, therefore, can be used as a potential therapeutic strategy for liver cirrhosis. In this study, we examined the therapeutic effects of NK cells in the carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver cirrhosis mouse model. NK cells were isolated from the mouse spleen and expanded in the cytokine-stimulated culture medium. Natural killer group 2, member D (NKG2D)-positive NK cells were significantly increased after a week of expansion in culture. The intravenous injection of NK cells significantly alleviated liver cirrhosis by reducing collagen deposition, HSC marker activation, and macrophage infiltration. For in vivo imaging, NK cells were isolated from codon-optimized luciferase-expressing transgenic mice. Luciferase-expressing NK cells were expanded, activated and administrated to the mouse model to track them. Bioluminescence images showed increased accumulation of the intravenously inoculated NK cells in the cirrhotic liver of the recipient mouse. In addition, we conducted QuantSeq 3' mRNA sequencing-based transcriptomic analysis. From the transcriptomic analysis, 33 downregulated genes in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and 41 downregulated genes involved in the inflammatory response were observed in the NK cell-treated cirrhotic liver tissues from the 1532 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). This result indicated that the repetitive administration of NK cells alleviated the pathology of liver fibrosis in the CCl4-induced liver cirrhosis mouse model via anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Taken together, our research demonstrated that NK cells could have therapeutic effects in a CCl4-induced liver cirrhosis mouse model. In particular, it was elucidated that extracellular matrix genes and inflammatory response genes, which were mainly affected after NK cell treatment, could be potential targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ho Rim Oh
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Kyung Ko
- Research & Development Center, THERABEST, Co., Ltd., Seoul 06656, Republic of Korea
| | - Daehee Son
- Research & Development Center, THERABEST, Co., Ltd., Seoul 06656, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Wook Ki
- Research & Development Center, THERABEST, Co., Ltd., Seoul 06656, Republic of Korea
| | - Shin-Il Kim
- Research & Development Center, THERABEST, Co., Ltd., Seoul 06656, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok-Yong Lee
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
- Cancer Imaging Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Keon Wook Kang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Gi Jeong Cheon
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Do Won Hwang
- Research & Development Center, THERABEST, Co., Ltd., Seoul 06656, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyewon Youn
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
- Cancer Imaging Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
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3
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Pu Q, Yu L, Wang X, Yan H, Xie Y, Jiang Y, Yang Z. Immunomodulatory Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine Combined with Systemic Therapy on Patients with Liver Cancer: A Systemic Review and Network Meta-analysis. J Cancer 2022; 13:3280-3296. [PMID: 36118529 PMCID: PMC9475362 DOI: 10.7150/jca.74829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: As immune combination therapy in the treatment of liver cancer made significant achievements, and the modulating effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) on immunity gradually appeared. The main purpose of this study was to study the effect of different TCM combined with systemic therapy (ST) on immune regulation in patients with liver cancer, as well as the efficacy and safety of combined therapy, and to find the best combined application scheme by ranking. Methods: Nine electronic databases were searched from January 1, 2010, to November 12, 2021, to search for RCTs of TCM combined ST in the field of liver cancer for literature screening, quality evaluation and data extraction. STATA 15.0 and RevMan 5.3 software were used to conduct network meta-analysis to analyze and explore the significance of TCM combined ST in immune regulation, efficacy and safety in clinical application. The probability value of the surface under the cumulative ranking curve was used to rank the processing studied. Results: A total of 25 studies involving 2,152 participants were included in the network meta-analysis, including six traditional Chinese medicine injections and seven proprietary Chinese medicines. The results showed that Dahuang Zhechong Wan and Kangai injection combined with ST were the best choices for immune regulation. Moreover, the Huaier granule was the best choice to reduce vascular endothelial growth factors. Conclusion: For patients with liver cancer, TCM combined with ST was better than that of ST alone and can significantly improve the immune function of patients as well as the efficacy and safety of treatment. However, given the limited sample size and methodological quality of the trials that we included in our study, more centralized and randomized controlled trials with a large sample size are required to verify our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Pu
- Center of Integrative Medicine, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Lihua Yu
- Center of Integrative Medicine, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinhui Wang
- Center of Integrative Medicine, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Huiwen Yan
- Center of Integrative Medicine, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuqing Xie
- Center of Integrative Medicine, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuyong Jiang
- Center of Integrative Medicine, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiyun Yang
- Center of Integrative Medicine, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Wei Y, Bingyu W, Lei Y, Xingxing Y. The antifibrotic role of natural killer cells in liver fibrosis. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2022; 247:1235-1243. [PMID: 35475367 PMCID: PMC9379607 DOI: 10.1177/15353702221092672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is the common pathological change of chronic liver diseases characterized by increased deposition of extracellular matrix and reduced matrix degradation. In response to liver injury caused by a variety of pathogenic agents, such as virus and alcohol, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are differentiated into myofibroblast-like cells and produce excessive collagens, thus resulting in fibrogenesis. Natural killer (NK) cells are the essential innate immune cells in the liver and generally control fibrosis by killing activated HSCs. This review briefly describes the fibrogenesis process and the phenotypic features of hepatic NK cells. Besides, it focuses on the antifibrotic mechanisms of NK cells and explores the potential of activating NK cells as a therapeutic strategy for the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Wei
- Department of Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Wang Bingyu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Heilongjiang Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Yang Lei
- Department of Gastroenterology, Heilongjiang Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Yuan Xingxing
- Department of Gastroenterology, Heilongjiang Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150001, China,Yuan Xingxing.
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Gan C, Cai Q, Tang C, Gao J. Inflammasomes and Pyroptosis of Liver Cells in Liver Fibrosis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:896473. [PMID: 35707547 PMCID: PMC9189314 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.896473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Inflammasomes are multiprotein complexes that can sense danger signals and activate caspase-1 to mediate pro-inflammatory cytokines release and pyroptotic cell death. There are two main canonical and non-canonical signaling pathways that trigger inflammasome activation. Inflammasomes are expressed and assembled in parenchymal and nonparenchymal cells in response to liver injury in the liver. Additionally, the hepatocytes, biliary epithelial cells (cholangiocytes), hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), hepatic macrophages, and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) contribute to liver fibrosis via different mechanisms. However, the underlying mechanism of the inflammasome and pyroptosis in these liver cells in liver fibrosis remains elusive. This review summarizes the activation and function of inflammasome complexes and then discusses the association between inflammasomes, pyroptosis, and liver fibrosis. Unlike other similar reviewers, we will focus on the effect of inflammasome activation and pyroptosis in the various liver cells during the development of liver fibrosis. We will also highlight the latest progress of pharmacological intervention in inflammasome-mediated liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Gan
- Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qiuyu Cai
- Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chengwei Tang
- Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Jinhang Gao, ; ; Chengwei Tang,
| | - Jinhang Gao
- Lab of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Jinhang Gao, ; ; Chengwei Tang,
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Zecca A, Barili V, Olivani A, Biasini E, Boni C, Fisicaro P, Montali I, Tiezzi C, Dalla Valle R, Ferrari C, Cariani E, Missale G. Targeting Stress Sensor Kinases in Hepatocellular Carcinoma-Infiltrating Human NK Cells as a Novel Immunotherapeutic Strategy for Liver Cancer. Front Immunol 2022; 13:875072. [PMID: 35677052 PMCID: PMC9168800 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.875072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells may become functionally exhausted entering hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and this has been associated with tumor progression and poor clinical outcome. Hypoxia, low nutrients, immunosuppressive cells, and soluble mediators characterize the intratumor microenvironment responsible for the metabolic deregulation of infiltrating immune cells such as NK cells. HCC-infiltrating NK cells from patients undergoing liver resection for HCC were sorted, and genome-wide transcriptome profiling was performed. We have identified a marked general upregulation of gene expression profile along with metabolic impairment of glycolysis, OXPHOS, and autophagy as well as functional defects of NK cells. Targeting p38 kinase, a stress-responsive mitogen-activated protein kinase, we could positively modify the metabolic profile of NK cells with functional restoration in terms of TNF-α production and cytotoxicity. We found a metabolic and functional derangement of HCC-infiltrating NK cells that is part of the immune defects associated with tumor progression and recurrence. NK cell exhaustion due to the hostile tumor microenvironment may be restored with p38 inhibitors with a selective mechanism that is specific for tumor-infiltrating-not affecting liver-infiltrating-NK cells. These results may represent the basis for the development of a new immunotherapeutic strategy to integrate and improve the available treatments for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Zecca
- Unit of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Laboratory of Viral Immunopathology, Azienda Ospedaliero–Universitaria of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Valeria Barili
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Andrea Olivani
- Unit of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Laboratory of Viral Immunopathology, Azienda Ospedaliero–Universitaria of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Biasini
- Unit of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Laboratory of Viral Immunopathology, Azienda Ospedaliero–Universitaria of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Carolina Boni
- Unit of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Laboratory of Viral Immunopathology, Azienda Ospedaliero–Universitaria of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Paola Fisicaro
- Unit of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Laboratory of Viral Immunopathology, Azienda Ospedaliero–Universitaria of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Ilaria Montali
- Unit of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Laboratory of Viral Immunopathology, Azienda Ospedaliero–Universitaria of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Camilla Tiezzi
- Unit of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Laboratory of Viral Immunopathology, Azienda Ospedaliero–Universitaria of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Carlo Ferrari
- Unit of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Laboratory of Viral Immunopathology, Azienda Ospedaliero–Universitaria of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Gabriele Missale
- Unit of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Laboratory of Viral Immunopathology, Azienda Ospedaliero–Universitaria of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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Zhou L, Shen M, Fan X, Liu Y, Yang L. Pathogenic and Potential Therapeutic Roles of Exosomes Derived From Immune Cells in Liver Diseases. Front Immunol 2022; 13:810300. [PMID: 35185900 PMCID: PMC8854144 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.810300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver diseases, such as viral hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and hepatocellular carcinoma place a heavy burden on many patients worldwide. However, the treatment of many liver diseases is currently insufficient, and the treatment may be associated with strong side effects. Therapies for liver diseases targeting the molecular and cellular levels that minimize adverse reactions and maximize therapeutic effects are in high demand. Immune cells are intimately involved in the occurrence, development, and prognosis of liver diseases. The immune response in the liver can be suppressed, leading to tolerance in homeostasis. When infection or tissue damage occurs, immunity in the liver is activated rapidly. As small membrane vesicles derived from diverse cells, exosomes carry multiple cargoes to exert their regulatory effects on recipient cells under physiological or pathological conditions. Exosomes from different immune cells exert different effects on liver diseases. This review describes the biology of exosomes and focuses on the effects of exosomes from different immune cells on pathogenesis, diagnosis, and prognosis and their therapeutic potential in liver diseases.
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Hosseinzadeh F, Ai J, Hajifathali A, Muhammadnejad S, Ebrahimi-Barough S, Seyhoun I, Komeili Movahed T, Shirian S, Hosseinzadeh F, Ahmadpour S, Alijani M, Verdi J. The effects of Sorafenib and Natural killer cell co-injection in combinational treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma; an in vivo approach. Pharmacol Rep 2022; 74:379-391. [PMID: 35089543 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-021-00335-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Natural killer cells (NKC) and Sorafenib (Sor) are two important agents for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Over the past decade, the interaction of Sor and NKC against HCC has been widely challenging. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of NKC & Sor for the treatment of HCC in vivo. METHODS Subcutaneous xenograft models of HCC were established in nude mice. For safety assessment of treatment, the kidney and liver functions were analyzed. Paraffin embedded tumor sections were histopathologically studied and immunohistochemistry (IHC) tests were done to evaluate the angiogenesis (CD34) and proliferation (Ki67) indexes. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay was performed to identify the tumor cells undergoing apoptosis. The serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and expression levels of major inflammatory cytokines and cytoplasmic granules in xenograft HCC were quantified using real-time PCR. RESULTS NKC & Sor significantly inhibited necrosis and apoptosis in tumor cells and increased angiogenesis and proliferation of HCC compared to the monotherapy of NKC or Sor alone. The serum levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ as well as the expression levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, interleukins (ILs)-1, 6, 10, granzyme-B and perforin in the xenograft HCC tissues of the treated mice with NKC & Sor were significantly lower than those of treated with NKC or Sor alone. CONCLUSION Therapy with the specific dosage of NKC & Sor could not inhibit the HCC xenograft growth rate through a synergistic effect in a mouse model of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faezeh Hosseinzadeh
- Department of Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. .,Department of Tissue Engineering, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran. .,Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran.
| | - Jafar Ai
- Department of Tissue Engineering, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Hajifathali
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samad Muhammadnejad
- Gene Therapy Research Center, Digestive Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Somayeh Ebrahimi-Barough
- Department of Tissue Engineering, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Iman Seyhoun
- Department of Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Sadegh Shirian
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran.,Shiraz Molecular Pathology Research Center, Dr. Daneshbod Path Lab, Shiraz, Iran
| | | | - Sajjad Ahmadpour
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Diseases Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran
| | - Mohammadreza Alijani
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran.,Shefa Neuroscience Research Center, Khatam Alanbia Hospital, Tehran, Iran
| | - Javad Verdi
- Department of Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Yang F, Li H, Li Y, Hao Y, Wang C, Jia P, Chen X, Ma S, Xiao Z. Crosstalk between hepatic stellate cells and surrounding cells in hepatic fibrosis. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 99:108051. [PMID: 34426110 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis represents as a dynamic pathological process characterized by the net accumulation of extracellular matrix in the progression of various chronic liver diseases, including viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, and metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is well-defined to play a central role in the initiation and progression of hepatic fibrosis. However, the activation of HSCs is affected by the complicated microenvironments in liver, which largely attributes to the communication between hepatocytes and multiple tissue-resident cells, including sinusoidal endothelial cells, bile duct epithelial cells, platelets, T cells, B cells, macrophages, natural killer cells, neutrophils, dendritic cells, in the direct or indirect mechanisms. Cellular crosstalk between HSCs and surrounding cells contributes to the activation of HSCs and the progression of hepatic fibrosis. Currently, accumulating evidence have proven the complexity and plasticity of HSCs activation, and further clarification of cellular communication between HSCs and surrounding cells will provide sufficient clue to the development of novel diagnostic methods and therapeutic strategies for hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangming Yang
- Department of Digestive Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Heng Li
- Laboratory of Anti-inflammation and Immunopharmacology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yanmin Li
- Department of Digestive Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yaokun Hao
- Department of Digestive Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Chenxiao Wang
- Department of Digestive Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Pan Jia
- Department of Digestive Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xinju Chen
- Department of Digestive Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Suping Ma
- Department of Digestive Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Zhun Xiao
- Department of Digestive Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China.
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Han QJ, Mu YL, Zhao HJ, Zhao RR, Guo QJ, Su YH, Zhang J. Fasudil prevents liver fibrosis via activating natural killer cells and suppressing hepatic stellate cells. World J Gastroenterol 2021; 27:3581-3594. [PMID: 34239271 PMCID: PMC8240055 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i24.3581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fasudil, as a Ras homology family member A (RhoA) kinase inhibitor, is used to improve brain microcirculation and promote nerve regeneration clinically. Increasing evidence shows that Rho-kinase inhibition could improve liver fibrosis.
AIM To evaluate the anti-fibrotic effects of Fasudil in a mouse model of liver fibrosis induced by thioacetamide (TAA).
METHODS C57BL/6 mice were administered TAA once every 3 d for 12 times. At 1 wk after induction with TAA, Fasudil was intraperitoneally injected once a day for 3 wk, followed by hematoxylin and eosin staining, sirius red staining, western blotting, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and immune cell activation was assayed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Furthermore, the effects of Fasudil on hepatic stellate cells and natural killer (NK) cells were assayed in vitro.
RESULTS First, we found that TAA-induced liver injury was protected, and the positive area of sirius red staining and type I collagen deposition were significantly decreased by Fasudil treatment. Furthermore, western blot and qPCR assays showed that the levels of alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) were inhibited by Fasudil. Moreover, flow cytometry analysis revealed that NK cells were activated by Fasudil treatment in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, Fasudil directly promoted the apoptosis and inhibited the proliferation of hepatic stellate cells by decreasing α-SMA and TGF-β1.
CONCLUSION Fasudil inhibits liver fibrosis by activating NK cells and blocking hepatic stellate cell activation, thereby providing a feasible solution for the clinical treatment of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiu-Ju Han
- Institute of Immunopharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China
| | - Yong-Liang Mu
- Institute of Immunopharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China
| | - Hua-Jun Zhao
- Institute of Immunopharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China
| | - Rong-Rong Zhao
- Institute of Immunopharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China
| | - Quan-Juan Guo
- Institute of Immunopharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China
| | - Yu-Hang Su
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Institute of Immunopharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China
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11
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Wu Y, Huang M, Sun H, Zhou X, Zhou R, Gu G, Xia Q. Role of Innate Immunity in Pediatric Post-transplant Idiopathic Liver Fibrosis. Front Immunol 2020; 11:2111. [PMID: 33193293 PMCID: PMC7642407 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.02111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Pediatric post-transplant idiopathic liver fibrosis is an unexplained graft fibrosis that occurs in symptom-free children without acute rejection and surgical complications. Despite a lack of consensus on the subject, the development of pediatric post-transplant idiopathic liver fibrosis is believed to be the result of multiple potential factors, including ischemia-reperfusion injury, allogeneic acute and chronic rejection, viral hepatitis recurrence, opportunistic infection, and drug-induced liver damage. Among them, there is growing evidence that innate immunity may also have a unique role in this progression. This study reviews the features of pediatric post-transplant idiopathic liver fibrosis and discusses current studies illustrating the potential mechanisms of liver allograft tolerance induced by intrahepatic innate immunity, the role of components including Toll-like receptors (TLRs), interferons (IFN), dendritic cells (DC), natural killer cells (NK cells), NKT cells, neutrophils, and Kupffer cells, as well as their possibly relevant role in the development of pediatric post-transplant idiopathic liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingzhu Huang
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Haojie Sun
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiying Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruoqiao Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Guangxiang Gu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Xia
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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12
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Jiang Y, Chen Y, Chen L, Yao W, Guan J, Liu X, Wei X, Lin X. Impaired circulating CD56 dim NK cells are associated with decompensation of HBV-related cirrhosis. Hum Immunol 2019; 81:32-40. [PMID: 31735440 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2019.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Revised: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
NK cells play an important role in immune regulation and defense of infection, but their characteristics in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and their relationship with liver function remain unclear. We studied the functional properties of NK cells (including CD56dim NK and CD56bright NK cells) in patients with HBV-related decompensated liver cirrhosis (HBV-DLC) and analyzed their relationship with decompensation of liver function. Thirty patients with HBV-DLC and 25 patients with HBV-related compensated liver cirrhosis (HBV-CLC) were recruited in this study. Twenty five age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were recruited as healthy controls (HCs). The phenotypical and functional characteristics of NK cell subsets were detected by flow cytometry, and the correlation between NK cells and decompensation of liver function was analyzed. The frequency of circulating CD56bright NK cells was significantly increased while circulating CD56dim NK cells was significantly decreased in HBV-DLC patients as compared with HCs and HBV-CLC patients. Peripheral activated-CD56bright NK cells from HBV-DLC patients might express lower levels of inhibitory receptor CD158b1/2 and higher levels of activating receptor NKG2D and their expression of perforin and granzyme A/B also increased significantly compared with HCs, suggesting a high immune activation status of peripheral CD56bright NK cells in HBV-DLC patients. In HBV-DLC patients, the expression of CD107a and perforin in circulating CD56dim NK cells was positively correlated with cytolytic capacity while CD107a and perforin expression in circulating CD56dim NK cells were significantly decreased, suggesting an impaired cytolytic capacity of circulating CD56dim NK cells. Besides, we found that the perforin expression of circulating CD56dim NK cells correlated negatively with child-pugh classification in HBV-DLC patients. The functional properties of circulating NK cell subsets in HBV-DLC patients have changed significantly, especially of CD56dim NK cells which closely related to decompensation of liver function. These findings may help provide new perspectives and theoretical basis for the treatment of patients with HBV-DLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Jiang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yingxiao Chen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou, Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Liling Chen
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Weifeng Yao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jingjing Guan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Liu
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xin Wei
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
| | - Xiangyang Lin
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
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13
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Liu M, Hu Y, Yuan Y, Tian Z, Zhang C. γδT Cells Suppress Liver Fibrosis via Strong Cytolysis and Enhanced NK Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity Against Hepatic Stellate Cells. Front Immunol 2019; 10:477. [PMID: 30930903 PMCID: PMC6428727 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins, resulting from maladaptive wound healing responses to chronic liver injury. γδT cells are important in chronic liver injury pathogenesis and subsequent liver fibrosis; however, their role and underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The present study aims to assess whether γδT cells contribute to liver fibrosis regression. Using a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced murine model of liver fibrosis in wild-type (WT) and γδT cell deficient (TCRδ−/−) mice, we demonstrated that γδT cells protected against liver fibrosis and exhibited strong cytotoxicity against activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Further study show that chronic liver inflammation promoted hepatic γδT cells to express NKp46, which contribute to the direct killing of activated HSCs by γδT cells. Moreover, we identified that an IFNγ-producing γδT cell subset (γδT1) cells exhibited stronger cytotoxicity against activated HSCs than the IL-17-producing subset (γδT17) cells upon chronic liver injury. In addition, γδT cells promoted the anti-fibrotic ability of conventional natural killer (cNK) cells and liver-resident NK (lrNK) cells by enhancing their cytotoxicity against activated HSCs. The cell crosstalk between γδT and NK cells was shown to depend partly on co-stimulatory receptor 4-1BB (CD137) engagement. In conclusion, our data confirmed the protective effects of γδT cells, especially the γδT1 subset, by directly killing activated HSCs and increasing NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity against activated HSCs in CCl4-induced liver fibrosis, which suggest valuable therapeutic targets to treat liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meifang Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Immunopharmacology and Immunotherapy, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yuan Hu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Immunopharmacology and Immunotherapy, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yi Yuan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Immunopharmacology and Immunotherapy, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Zhigang Tian
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Immunology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Cai Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Immunopharmacology and Immunotherapy, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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14
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Mesenchymal stem cells suppress hepatic fibrosis accompanied by expanded intrahepatic natural killer cells in rat fibrosis model. Mol Biol Rep 2019; 46:2997-3008. [PMID: 30850965 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-019-04736-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells have antifibrotic effects. We have evaluated the influence of rat bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cell (BM-MSC) treatment on liver histology, biochemical liver function tests, systemic immunoregulatory state and NK cell distribution in liver and peripheral blood in rat model of common bile duct (CBD) ligation and compared the results with the control group. Rats were divided into three groups: (1) CBD ligated (CBDL) rats received phosphate-buffered saline (CBDL + PBS group) or (2) MSC (CBDL + MSC group) and sham-operated rats received MSC (healthy + MSC group). We found significantly decreased fibrosis scores with BM-MSC treatment in CBDL rats compared to the control (CBDL + PBS) group while no fibrosis developed in sham operated (healthy + MSC) group. BM-MSC treatment has decreased the inflammation as reflected by the significantly decreased T cell proliferation and inflammatory cytokine concentrations from splenocyte culture and liver tissue itself compared to CBDL + PBS. NK cells both in parenchyme and portal areas decreased significantly in liver and blood in CBDL + PBS compared to healthy + MSC while they were found to be increased in CBDL + MSC compared to CBDL + PBS rats. In conclusion, BM-MSCs may suppress hepatic fibrosis accompanied by expanded intrahepatic NK cells in CBDL rats. Thus, our animal study shows that MSC treatment holds great promise for treatment of patients with end-stage liver diseases through a possible mechanism by adopting the NK cell population and new studies investigating the role of NK cells and clinical fibrosis are warranted.Trial registration number: Marmara University Animal Care and Use Committee approval code: 73.2013.mar.
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15
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El Sharkawy R, Thabet K, Lampertico P, Petta S, Mangia A, Berg T, Metwally M, Bayoumi A, Boonstra A, Brouwer WP, Smedile A, Abate ML, Loglio A, Douglas MW, Khan A, Santoro R, Fischer J, Leeming DJ, Liddle C, George J, Eslam M. A STAT4 variant increases liver fibrosis risk in Caucasian patients with chronic hepatitis B. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2018; 48:564-573. [PMID: 29963713 DOI: 10.1111/apt.14866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Revised: 02/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Host genetic modifiers of the natural history of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remain poorly understood. Recently, a genome-wide association study (GWAS)-identified polymorphism in the STAT4 gene that contributes to the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was shown to be associated with the full spectrum of hepatitis B virus (HBV) outcomes in Asian patients. However, the functional mechanisms for this effect are unknown and the role of the variant in modulating HBV disease in Caucasians has not been investigated. AIMS To determine whether STAT4 genetic variation is associated with liver injury in Caucasian patients with CHB and to investigate potential mechanisms mediating this effect. METHODS STAT4 rs7574865 was genotyped in 1085 subjects (830 with CHB and 255 healthy controls). STAT4 expression in liver, PBMCs and NK cells, STAT4 phosphorylation and secretion of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) according to STAT4 genetic variation was examined. RESULTS STAT4 rs7574865 genotype was independently associated with hepatic inflammation (OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.07-2.06, P = 0.02) and advanced fibrosis (OR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.19-2.83, P = 0.006). The minor allele frequency of rs7574865 was significantly lower than that in healthy controls. rs7574865 GG risk carriers expressed lower levels of STAT4 in liver, PBMCs and in NK cells, while NK cells from patients with the risk genotype had impaired STAT4 phosphorylation following stimulation with IL-12/IL-18 and a reduction in secretion of IFN-γ. CONCLUSION Genetic susceptibility to HBV persistence, hepatic inflammation and fibrosis in Caucasians associates with STAT4 rs7574865 variant. Downstream effects on NK cell function through STAT4 phosphorylation-dependent IFN-γ production likely contribute to these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - K Thabet
- Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Minia, Egypt
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16
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Li X, Su Y, Hua X, Xie C, Liu J, Huang Y, Zhou L, Zhang M, Li X, Gao Z. Levels of hepatic Th17 cells and regulatory T cells upregulated by hepatic stellate cells in advanced HBV-related liver fibrosis. J Transl Med 2017; 15:75. [PMID: 28399886 PMCID: PMC5387242 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-017-1167-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Liver fibrosis which mainly occurs upon chronic hepatitis virus infection potentially leads to portal hypertension, hepatic failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the immune status of Th17 and Treg cells in liver fibrosis is controversial and the exact mechanisms remain largely elusive. Methods Liver tissues and peripheral blood were obtained simultaneously from 32 hepatitis B virus infected patients undergoing surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma at the medical center of Sun Yat-sen University. Liver tissues at least 3 cm away from the tumor site were used for the analyses. Levels of Th17 cells and regulatory T cells were detected by flow cytometry analysis and immunohistochemistry. In vitro experiment, we adopted magnetic cell sorting to investigate how hepatic stellate cells regulate the levels of Th17 cells and regulatory T cells. Results We found that hepatic Th17 cells and regulatory T cells were increased in patients with advanced stage HBV-related liver fibrosis. Hepatic stellate cells upregulated the levels of Th17 cells and regulatory T cells via PGE2/EP2 and EP4 pathway. Conclusions We found that the increased levels of Th17 cells and regulatory T cells were upregulated by hepatic stellate cells. These results may provide insight into the role of hepatic stellate cells and Th17 cells and regulatory T cells in the persistence of fibrosis and into the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma following cirrhosis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12967-017-1167-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yujie Su
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xuefeng Hua
- Department of Transplant Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chan Xie
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yuehua Huang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong Province, China.,Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Liver Disease, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liang Zhou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Min Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong Province, China.,Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Liver Disease, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xu Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 210 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui Province, China.
| | - Zhiliang Gao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong Province, China. .,Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Liver Disease, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. .,Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China.
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17
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Rigamonti F, Montecucco F, Liberale L. Advanced refractory heart failure: conservative or interventional approach? Eur J Clin Invest 2017; 47:193-194. [PMID: 27931078 DOI: 10.1111/eci.12712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Rigamonti
- Division of Cardiology, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.,First Clinic of Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa and IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino - IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genoa, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Montecucco
- First Clinic of Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa and IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino - IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genoa, Italy.,IRCCS AOU San Martino - IST, Genoa, Italy.,Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Luca Liberale
- First Clinic of Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa and IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino - IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genoa, Italy
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