[Overview and prospects of an in vitro cell model for studying liver fibrosis]

Liver fibrosis incidence and adverse outcomes are high; however, there are no known chemical drugs or biological agents that are specific and effective for treatment. The paucity of a robust and realistic in vitro model for liver fibrosis is one of the major causes hindering anti-liver fibrosis drug development. This article summarizes the latest progress in the development of in vitro cell models for liver fibrosis, with a focus based on the analysis of induction and activation of hepatic stellate cells, cell co-culture, and 3D model co-construction, as well as concurrent potential methods based on hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cell establishment.

[Effects of two nanotopographies of ultraviolet-treated titanium implant surface on macrophage behaviour and inflammatory cytokines secretion]

Objective: To investigate the effects of two nanotopographies of ultraviolet (UV)-treated titanium surface on macrophage biological behaviour and inflammatory cytokines secretion, and to provide basis for clinical application of UV-treatment in dental implant modification. Methods: Titanium disks were allocated into two groups. Samples in one group were acid-etched in hydrofluoric acid (Acid Ti group), and those in the other group were acid-etched and anodized (Anodization group) to form two nanotopographies respectively. The surface morphology was evaluated by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The samples were stored in the dark for 8 weeks. Thirteen samples from each group were exposed to UV-irradiation for 48 h (Acid Ti+UV group and Anodization+UV group), UV-untreated samples from Acid Ti and Anodization groups served as control. Hydrophilicity of samples was measured using contact angle measuring device. After 4, 24 and 72 h of incubation, macrophage cell adhesion and proliferation were conducted using cell counting kit-8. Cytokine/chemokine secretions [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α)] were measured from cell culture supernatants at 24 and 72 h using magnetic luminex assay. Cell morphology was examined using FE-SEM after 2 h of incubation. Results: Micropitted/nanopillar and micropitted/nanotubular topographies were observed in Acid Ti group and Anodization group respectively. Contact angles in Acid Ti+UV and Anodization+UV groups (20.2°±2.8° and 0.0°±0.0°) were significantly smaller than those in the Acid Ti and Anodization groups (P<0.05). Cell adhesion and proliferation in all groups at 4 and 24 h showed no difference (P>0.05). Cell proliferation in Acid Ti+UV and Anodization+UV groups at 72 h were (0.92±0.13) and (1.10±0.08) respectively, which were significantly higher than those in Acid Ti and Anodization groups. TNF-α concentration in Acid Ti+UV and Anodization+UV groups at 72 h were (1.03±0.11) and (0.87±0.10) ng/L, MCP-1 were (301.7±50.3) and (240.8±18.7) ng/L, MIP-1α were (224.9±30.6) and (233.9±14.9) ng/L respectively, which were significantly lower than those in Acid Ti and Anodization groups (P<0.05). Conclusions: UV treatment can increase hydrophilicity of two titanium surface topographies, especially of Anodization+UV group. UV-treated titanium surfaces can promote macrophage proliferation and reduce the inflammatory response in vitro.