Characteristics of three cases of hepatocellular carcinoma showing enhanced technetium-99m-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-galactosyl human serum albumin accumulation by single photon emission computed tomography analysis

Quantification of cysteine hydropersulfide with a ratiometric near-infrared fluorescent probe based on selenium-sulfur exchange reaction

Cysteine hydropersulfide (Cys-SSH) plays primary roles in the synthesis of sulfur-containing cofactors, regulation of cellular signaling, activation or inactivation of enzyme activities, and modulation of cellular redox milieu. However, its biofunctions need to be further addressed due to the fact that many issues remain to be clarified. Herein, we conceive a novel ratiometric near-infrared fluorescent probe Cy-Dise for the sensitive and selective detection of Cys-SSH in living cells and in vivo for the first time. Cy-Dise is composed of three moieties: bis(2-hydroxyethyl) diselenide, heptamethine cyanine, and d-galactose. Cy-Dise exhibits a satisfactory linear ratio response to Cys-SSH via a selenium-sulfur exchange reaction in the range of 0-12 μM Cys-SSH. The experimental detection limit is determined to be 0.12 μM. The results of ratio imaging analyses confirm the qualitative and quantitative detection capabilities of Cy-Dise in HepG2 cells, HL-7702 cells, and primary hepatocytes. The level changes of Cys-SSH in cells stimulated by some related reagents are also observed. The probe is also suitable for deep tissue ratio imaging. Organ targeting tests with Cy-Dise in normal Spraque-Dawley (SD) rats and Walker-256 tumor SD rats verify its predominant localization in the liver. The probe is promising for revealing the roles of Cys-SSH in physiological and pathological processes.

Cholesterol anchored arabinogalactan for asialoglycoprotein receptor targeting: synthesis, characterization, and proof of concept of hepatospecific delivery

Asialoglycoprotein receptors (ASGPR) are hepatocyte bound receptors, which exhibit receptor mediated endocytosis (RME) for galactose specific moieties. Arabinogalactan (AG), a liver specific high galactose containing branched polysaccharide was hydrophobized using cholesterol (CHOL) as a lipid anchor via a two step reaction process to yield the novel polysaccharide lipid conjugated ligand (CHOL-AL-AG). CHOL-AL-AG was characterized by Fourier transform infra red (FTIR) spectroscopy, (1)H and (13)C nuclear magnetic spectroscopy (NMR), size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Conventional liposomes (CL) and surface modified liposomes (SML) containing CHOL-AL-AG were prepared using reverse phase evaporation technique. Effect of CHOL-AL-AG concentration on particle size and zeta potential of SML was evaluated. Surface morphology of CL and SML was studied using cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). In vitro binding affinity of SML and CL was evaluated using Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA) assay. Cellular uptake of SML and CL was determined on ASGPR expressing HepG2 cell lines by confocal laser scanning microscopy technique (CLSM). FTIR spectra revealed bands at 1736 cm(-1) and 1664 cm(-1) corresponding to ester and carbamate functional groups, respectively. Signals at δ 0.5-2.5 corresponding to the cholestene ring and δ 3-5.5 corresponding to the carbohydrate backbone were observed in (1)H NMR spectrum of the product. CHOL-AL-AG possessed a mean average molecular weight of 27 KDa as determined by size exclusion chromatography. An endothermic peak at 207 °C was observed in the DSC thermogram of CHOL-AL-AG, which was not observed in thermograms of reactants and intermediate product. Synthesized CHOL-AL-AG was successfully incorporated in liposomes to yield SML. Both CL and SML possessed a mean particle size of ∼ 200 nm with polydispersity index of ∼ 0.25. The zeta potential of CLs was observed to be -17 mV whereas zeta potential of SMLs varied from -18 to -22 mV. RCA assay revealed enhanced binding of SML compared to CL confirming presence of galactose on surface of SML. CLSM studies demonstrated enhanced cellular uptake of SMLs compared to CL by HepG2 cells post 3 h administration indicating enhanced uptake by the ASGPR. Thus surface modified liposomes specific to target heptocytes demonstrate a promising approach for targeted drug delivery in liver cancer therapeutics.

Huge focal nodular hyperplasia difficult to distinguish from well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma

We present a 43-year-old man with huge focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) that was difficult to distinguish from well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). He previously had abnormal portal vein circulation due to hypoplasia of the intrahepatic portal vein, which was treated with a superior mesenteric vein-inferior vena cava shunt. Laboratory findings included predominantly indirect hyperbilirubinemia with concomitant elevation in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and ammonia. Serum α-fetoprotein and des-γ-carboxy prothrombin were slightly elevated. Multidetector-row computed tomography detected the primary tumor in the left liver lobe, which partially showed a central stellate scar. Gd ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging showed some low-intensity areas in the tumor in the hepatocyte phase. 99mTc-galactosyl human serum albumin scintigraphy showed normal intake of agent in the tumor. We could not rule out well-differentiated HCC. Extended left hepatectomy was performed. Final histopathological findings showed that most of the tumor was FNH against a background of portal vein hypoplasia with moderate atypia and hemorrhage. And immunohistochemical analysis revealed high expression of organic anion transporter (OATP) 1B3 and low expression of multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) 2 in a part of the tumor. The patient has remained alive with no hepatic lesion for 1 year after surgery. We describe a case of huge FNH that was difficult to distinguish from well-differentiated HCC even by current fully preoperative imaging technology and demonstrate the effectiveness of curative surgical resection.