Transfection of apoptosis related gene Fas ligand in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and its significance in apoptosis

AIM: To evaluate the expression of apoptosis related gene Fas ligand (FasL) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells HepG2 and its significance in apoptosis. METHODS: Levels of soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) in a group of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-induced chronichepatitis, HBV-positive liver cirrhosis and HCC were evaluated. In a further study, the recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA3.1hisB-FasL was transfected into HCC cells HepG2 by lipofection, and then soluble FasL was examined in the supernatant of culture cells by EIA, FasL expression in HepG2 cells was detected by immuohistochemistry. After being stained by annexin V and propidium iodine, cells were passed through a flow cytometer and examined by a fluorescence microscope and a laser scanning microscope.RESULTS: The sFasL levels were significantly lower in patients with HCC when compared to the patients with hepatitis or liver cirrhosis. In comparison with untransfected cells, the soluble FasL could be detected in the supernatant of transfected cells. FasL was expressed on the membranes and cytoplasm of transfected cells. The apoptotic cell rate was 36.30% in transfected cells, and was 11.53% in untransfected cells. Moreover, the different stage of apoptotic cells could be distinguished by annexin V and propidium iodine staining.CONCLUSION: Fas ligand is an apoptotic pathway of HCC cells.

Modulation of Kupffer cells on hepatic drug metabolism

AIM: To observe the effects of Kupffer cells on hepatic drug metabolic enzymes.METHODS: Kunming mice were ip injected with GdCI310,20, 40 mg/kg to decrease the number and block the function of kupffer cells selectively. The contents of drug metabolic enzymes, cytochrome P450, NADPH-cytochrom C redutase(NADPH-C), aniline hydroxylase (ANH), aminopyrine N-demethylase (AMD), erythromycin N-demethylase (EMD),and glutathione s-transferase (mGST) in hepatic microsome and S9-GSTpi, S9-GST in supernatant of 9 000 g were accessed 1 d after the injection. The time course of alteration of drug metabolic enzymes was observed on d 1, 3, and 6 treated with a single dose GdCI3. Mice were treated with Ange/ica sinensis polysaccharides (ASP) of 30, 60, 120 mg/kg, ig, qd x6 d, respectively and the same assays were performed.RESULTS: P450 content and NADPH-C, ANH, AMD, and EMD activities were obviously reduced 1 d after Kupffer cell blockade. However, mGST and S9-GST activities were significantly increased. But no relationship was observed between GdCI3 dosage and enzyme activities. With single dose GdCI3 treatment, P450 content, NADPH-C, and ANH activities were further decreased following Kupffer cell blockade lasted for 6 d, by 35.7%, 50.3%, 36.5% after 3 d, and 57.9%, 57.9%, 63.2% after 6 d, respectively. On the contrary, AMD, EMD, mGST, and S9-GST activities were raised by 36.5%, 71.9%, 23.1%, 35.7% after 3 d,and 155%, 182%, 21.5%, 33.7% after 6 d, respectively.Furthermore, the activities of drug metabolic enzymes were markedly increased after 30 mg/kg ASP treatment,and decreased significantly after 120 mg/kg ASP treatment.No change in activity of S9-GSTpi was observed in the present study.CONCLUSION: Kupffer cells play an important role in the modulation of drug metabolic enzymes. The changes of drug metabolic enzyme activities depend on the time of kupffer cell blockade and on the degree of Kupffer cells activated. A low concentration of ASP increases the activities of drug metabolic enzymes, but a high concentration of ASP decreases the activities of drug metabolic enzymes.

Severe Anemia in a Patient With Mild T Cell Hypofunction Infected With Parvovirus B19

Background Parvovirus B19 is a single-stranded DNA virus with a 5.6 kilobase DNA genome and a diameter of 22–24nm.1 This virus does not possess an envelope and it is the most pathogenic virus belonging to the family of Parvoviridae that infects human beings.2 The main diseases caused by parvovirus B19 are as follows:(1)infectious erythema(also known as fifth disease,erythema infection),a cause of a common rash in pediatric patients;(2)joint disease;(3)aplastic anemia crisis in patients with chronic hemolytic disease;(4)chronic anemia in immunodeficient patients;(5)fetal hydrops in addition to stillbirth and abortion(fetal death).