动态监测Toll样受体4 CD14在大鼠急性肝衰竭中的变化

目的观察toll样受体4(toll like receptor 4,TLR4),CD14在D-氨基半乳糖介导的急性肝衰竭模型中的动态变化律规。方法用D-氨基半乳糖剂量造成大鼠急性肝衰竭模型,用RT-PCR方法检测toll样受体,CD14 mRNA在D-氨基半乳糖介导的大鼠急性肝衰竭6、12、24、48、72、120和148 h的表达。结果Toll样受体4mRNA在急性肝衰竭的12 h有显著升高,与正常组差异有显著性(P<0.05),CD14 mRNA在6 h与正常组差异有非常显著性(P<0.01),两者均在48 h达到高峰,72、120和148 h逐渐下降。LPS、ALT和AST在6 h有轻度升高,至24 h与正常组差异有显著性(P<0.05),48 h(P<0.01)达高峰,72 h(P<0.01)、120 h和148 h逐渐下降。结论Toll样受体4,CD14与LPS、ALT和AST有显著正相关。Toll样受体4,CD14与D-氨基半乳糖介导的急性肝衰竭有着密切的联系,可能成为临床上治疗急性肝衰竭的新靶点。

Expression of lipopolysaccharide binding protein and its receptor CD14 in experimental alcoholic liver disease

AIM: To evaluate the relationship between the expression of lipopolyaaccharides (LPS) binding protein (LBP) and CD14mRNA and the severity of liver injury in alcohol-fed rats.METHODS: Twenty Wietar rats were divided into two groups: ethanol-fed group (group E) and control group (group C). Group E was fed with ethanol( 5-12g. Kg- 1. D-1)and group C received dextrose instead of ethanol. Rats of the two groups were sacrificed at 4 weeks and 8 weeks.Levels of endotoxin and alanine transeminase (ALT) inblood were measured, and liver pathology was observed under light and electronic microscopy. Expressions of LBP and CD14 mRNA in liver tissues were determined by RT-PCR analysis.RESULTS: Plasma endotoxin levels were increased more significantly in group E( 129 ± 21) ng. L- 1 and ( 187 ± 35) ng.L- 1 at 4 and 8 wk than in control rats(48 ± 9) ng. L- 1 and (53±11) ng.L-1, respectively (P< 0.05). Mean values of plasma ALT levels were (1867 ± 250) nkat. L-1 and (2450 ±367) nkat. L- 1 in Group E. The values were increased more dramatically in ethanol-fed rats than in Group C after 4 and 8weeks. In liver section from ethanol-fed rats, there were marked pathological changes (steatosis, cell infiltration and necrosis). In ethanol-fed rats, ethanol administration led to a significant increase in LBP and CD14 mRNA levels compared with the control group ( P< 0.05).CONCLUSION: Ethanol administration led to a significant increase in endotoxin levels in serum and LBP and CD14mRNA expressions in liver tissues. The increase of LBP and CD14 mRNA expression might wake the liver more sensitive to endotoxin and liver injury.

Synthesis and Evaluation of a Novel Small-molecule Compound as an Anticancer Inhibitor of CD147

Objective Cancer is a serious threat to human health. Despite extensive research on cancer treatment,there is a growing demand for new therapies. CD147 is widely involved in tumor development, but it is unclear whether cancer cell malignancy is affected by CD147 expression level. The first compound(AC-73) targeting CD147 could only act on advanced tumors and inhibit metastasis. Therefore, new compounds with better anticancer activity should be explored.Methods Wst-1 assays were used to confirm the effect of novel compounds on proliferation.Apoptosis tests were used to evaluate their proapoptotic capacity. A nude mouse model was used to demonstrate in vivo anticancer activity and safety of the compounds. Western blots were used to suggest a molecule mechanism.Results There is a positive correlation between CD147 expression and tumor cell proliferation. A new compound, HA-08, was synthesized and proved to be more active than AC-73. HA-08 could inhibit cancer cell viability and promote cancer cell apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. HA-08 induces cancer apoptosis, mainly by disrupting the CD147-CD44 interaction and then down-regulating the JAK/STAT3/Bcl-2 signaling pathway.Conclusion Our results have clarified the tumor specificity of CD147 and its drug target characteristics.The biological profile of HA-08 suggests that this compound could be developed as a potential anticancer agent.

Effect of biliary drainage on inducible nitric oxide synthase, CD14 and TGR5 expression in obstructive jaundice rats

AIM: To investigate the effect of biliary drainage on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), CD14 and TGR5 expression in rats with obstructive jaundice (OJ). METHODS: Male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups: OJ, sham operation (SH), internal biliary drainage (ID) and external biliary drainage (ED). Rat models were successfully established by two operations and succumbed for extraction of Kupffer cells (KCs) and liver tissue collection on the 8 th and 15 th day. KCs were isolated by in situ hepatic perfusion and digested with collagen Ⅳ, density gradient centrifuged by percoll reagent and purified by cell culture attachment. The isolated KCs were cultured with the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with and without the addition of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). The expression of iNOS, CD14 and bile acid receptor-TGR5 protein in rat liver tissues was determined by immunohistochemistry. The expression of iNOS and CD14 messenger RNA (mRNA) on the isolated KCs was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the TGR5 mRNA level in KCs was measured by real-time quantitative PCR. RESULTS: The iNOS protein was markedly expressed in the liver of OJ rats, but rare expressed in SH rats. After relief of OJ, the iNOS expression was decidedly suppressed in the ID group (ID vs OJ, P < 0.01), but obviously increased in rats of ED (ED vs OJ, P=0.004). When interfered only with LPS, the expression of iNOS mRNA by KCs was increased in the OJ group compared with the SH group (P=0.004). After relief of biliary obstruction, the iNOS mRNA expression showed slight changes in the ED group (ED vs OJ, P=0.71), but dropped in the ID group (ID vs OJ, P=0.001). Compared with the simple intervention with LPS, the expressions of iNOS mRNA were significantly inhibited in all four groups after interfered with both LPS and UDCA (P < 0.01, respectively). After bile duct ligation, the CD14 protein expression in rat liver was significantly strengthened (OJ vs SH, P < 0.01), but the CD14 mRNA level by KCs was not up-regulated (OJ vs SH, P=0.822). After relieving the OJ, the expression of CD14 protein was reduced in the ID group (ID vs OJ, P < 0.01), but not reduced in ED group (ED vs OJ, P=0.591). And then the CD14 mRNA expression was aggravated by ED (ED vs OJ, P < 0.01), but was not significantly different between the ID group and the SH and OJ groups (ID vs SH, P=0.944; ID vs OJ, P=0.513, respectively). The expression of TGR5 protein and mRNA increased significantly in OJ rats (OJ vs SH, P=0.001, respectively). After relief of OJ, ID could reduce the expression of TGR5 protein and mRNA to the levels of SH group (ID vs SH, P=0.22 and P=0.354, respectively), but ED could not (ED vs SH, P=0.001, respectively).CONCLUSION: ID could be attributed to the regulatory function of activation of KCs and release of inflammatory mediators.

Synthesis of endotoxin receptor CD14 protein in Kupffer cells and its role in alcohol-induced liver disease

AIM: To observe the synthesis of endotoxin receptor CD14 protein and its mRNA expression in Kupffer cells (KCs), and evaluate the role of CD14 in the pathogenesis of liver injury in rats with alcohol-induced liver disease (ALD).METHODS: Twenty-eight Wistar rats were divided into two groups: ethanol-fed group and control group. Ethanol-fed group dextrose instead of ethanol. Two groups were sacrificed at 4 wk and 8 wk, respectively. KCs were isolated and the synthesis of CD14 protein and its mRNA expression in KCs were determined by flow cytometric analysis (FCM)or the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) analysis. The levels of plasma endotoxin and alanine transaminase (ALT) were measured by Limulus Amebocyte Lysate assay and standard enzymatic procedures respectively, and the levels of plasma tumor necosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 were both determined by ELISA. The liver pathology change was observed under light and electric microscopy.RESULTS: In ethanol-fed group, the percentages of FITCCD14 positive cells were 76.23 % and 89.42 % at 4 wk and 8 wk, respectively. Compared with control group (4.45 %and 5.38 %), the difference was significant (P＜0.05). The expressions of CD14 mRNA were 7.56±1.02 and 8.74±1.37 at 4 wk and 8 wk, respectively, which were significantly higher compared with the control group (1.77±0.21 and 1.98±0.23)(P＜0.05). Plasma endotoxin levels at 4 wk and 8 wk increased dramatically in ethanol-fed rats (112±15 IU/L and 147±22 IU/L) than those in the control animals (31±12 IU/L and 33±9 IU/L) (P＜0.05). In ethanol-fed rats, the levels of wk, respectively which were significantly higher than those fed rats, there were marked pathological changes including steatosis, cell infiltration and necrosis. No marked pathological changes were seen in control group.CONCLUSION: Ethanol administration led to a significantsynthesis of endotoxin receptor CD14 protein and its gene expression in KCs, which maybe result in the pathological changes of liver tissue and hepatic functional damages.

Onset of Coronary Heart Disease is Associated with HCMV Infection and Increased CD14^+CD16^+Monocytes in a Population of Weifang,China

Objective To investigate the relationship between human cytomegalovirus(HCMV)infection and peripheral blood CD14+CD16+monocytes in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease(CHD),and to elucidate the mechanism of pathogenesis in CHD by analyzing the correlation between infection,inflammation,and CHD,to provide a basis for the prevention,evaluation,and treatment of the disease.Methods In total,192 patients with CHD were divided into three groups:latent CHD,angina pectoris,and myocardial infarction.HCMV-IgM and-IgG antibodies were assessed using ELISA;CD14+CD16+monocytes were counted using a five-type automated hematology analyzer;mononuclear cells were assessed using fluorescence-activated cell sorting;and an automatic biochemical analyzer was used to measure the levels of triglyceride,cholesterol,high-and low-density lipoprotein cholesterols,lipoprotein,hs-CRp and Hcy.Results The positive rates of HCMV-IgM and-IgG were significantly higher in the CHD groups than in the control group.HCMV infection affects lipid metabolism to promote immune and inflammatory responses.Conclusion HCMV infection has a specific correlation with the occurrence and development of CHD.The expression of CD14+CD16+mononuclear cells in the CHD group was increased accordingly and correlated with acute HCMV infection.Thus,HCMV antibody as well as peripheral blood CD14+CD16+mononuclear cells can be used to monitor the occurrence and development of CHD.

Association of polymorphisms of IL and CD14 genes with acute severe pancreatitis and septic shock

AIM: To investigate IL-1β+3 594 in the 5th intron, IL-10-1 082 and CD14-159 polymorphisms in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) and septic shock.METHODS: The study included 215 patients (109 with acute severe pancreatitis (SAP), 106 with acute mild pancreatitis (MAP)) and 116 healthy volunteers. Genomic DNA was prepared from peripheral blood leukocytes. Genotypes and allele frequencies were determined in patients and healthy controls using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of PCR products.RESULTS: The frequencies of IL-1β+3 594T, IL-10-1082G and CD14-159T allele were similar in patients with mild or severe pancreatitis and in controls. Within SAP patients, no significant differences were found in the allele distribution examined when etiology was studied again. Patients with septic shock showed a significantly higher prevalence of IL-10-1082G allele than those without shock (x2 = 5.921,P = 0.015).CONCLUSION: IL-10-1082G plays an important role in the susceptibility of SAP patients to septic shock. Genetic factors are not important in determination of disease severity or susceptibility to AP.

Association of CD14/-260 polymorphism with gastric cancer risk in Highland Tibetans

AIM:To investigate the relationship between CD14-260and-651 polymorphisms and the risk of developing gastric cancer.METHODS:DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples obtained from 225 Tibetans with gastric cancer and 237 healthy Tibetans,and analyzed using the polymerase chain reaction/ligase detection(PCR/LDR)method to determine the genotypes at-260 and-651loci of the CD14 promoter.The allele frequencies,genotype frequencies,and haplotypes were analyzed for their association with gastric cancer risk using online SHEsis software.The luciferase reporter assay and point mutation analysis were used to construct in vitro plasmids expressing a C/T homozygote at the-260 lo-cus of the CD14 promoter.RESULTS:The frequencies of CC,CT and TT genotypes in the CD14-260 C/T locus in gastric cancer patients were 19.1%,38.7%and 42.2%,respectively,whereas they were 33.3%,32.5%and 34.2%,respectively,in healthy control subjects.CT genotype carriers were more frequently found among gastric cancer patients than healthy controls(OR=2.076;95%CI:1.282-3.360).Also,TT genotype carriers were more frequently found among gastric cancer patients(OR=2.155;95%CI:1.340-3.466).Compared to the C allele of CD14/-260,the T allele was associated with an increased risk for gastric cancer(OR=1.574;95%CI:1.121-2.045).Furthermore,the frequencies of CC,CT and TT in the CD14-651 C/T locus in gastric cancer patients were 64.4%,29.3%and 6.2%,respectively,while they were 56.5%,35.0%and 8.4%,respectively,in the healthy control subjects(P>0.05).Data obtained using the luciferase reporter assay showed that the p260T homozygote was associated with greater CD14 promoter activity(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:CD14/-260 polymorphism is associated with gastric cancer risk in Highland Tibetans and affects CD14 promoter activity,thereby regulating CD14expression.

Lipopolysaccharide induced synthesis of CD14 protein and its gene expression in hepatocytes during endotoxemia

AIM:To observe synthesis of CD14 protein and expressionof CD14 mRNA in hepatic tissue and hepatocytes of ratsduring endotoxemia.METHODS:The endotoxemia model of Wistar rat wasestablished by injection of a dose of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)(5mg·kg^(-1),Escherichia coil O111:B4)via the tailvein,then the rats were sacrificed after 3,6,12 and 24 h inbtaches.Hepatocytes were isolated from normal and LPS-injected rats by in situ collagenase perfusion technique andwere collected to measure the expression of CD14 mRNAand synthesis of CD14 protein by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)or Western blotanalysis.The binding of fluorescein isothiecyanate(FITC)-CD14 polyclonal antibody to isolated hepatocytes was alsoassessed by flow cytometric analysis(FCM).RESULTS:In the rats with endotoxemia,the expressions ofCD14 mRNA in hepatic tissue and isolated hepatocytes werestronger at 3,6,and 12 h than that in control rats(3.48±0.15,5.89±0.62,4.33±0.18,vs 1.35±0.14 in hepatictissue,P<0.01;4.12±0.17,6.24±0.64,4.35±0.18,vs1.87±0.15 in hepatecytss,P<0.01).The synthesis of CD14protein in hepatic tissue and isolated hepatoeytes increasesalso obviously in 6 and 12 h when compared to that incontrol rats(13.27±1.27,17.32±1.35,11.42±1.20,vs 7.34±0.72 in hepatic tissue,P<0.01;14.68±_+1.30,17.95±1.34,11.65±1.19,vs 7.91±0.70 in hepatocytoes,P<0.01).FCM showed that mean fluorescence intensity(MFI)andnumbers of FITC-CD14 positive cells in the rats withendotoxemia increased obviously at 3,6,12 and 24h whencompared with normal control group(43.4%,70.2%,91.4%,32.6% vs4.5%,P<0.01).CONCLUSION:LPS can markedly promote the synthesis ofCD]4 protein and up-regulate the expression of CD14 mRNAin isolated hepatocytes and hepatic tissue.Liver might be amain source for soluble CD14 production duringendotoxemia.

Combined carriership of TLR9 -1237C and CD14 -260T alleles enhances the risk of developing chronic relapsing pouchitis

AIM: To investigate the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes involved in bacterial recognition and the susceptibility to pouchitis or pouchitis severity.METHODS: Analyses of CD14 -260C>T, CARD15/NOD2 3020insC, Toll-like receptor (TLR)4 +896A>G,TLR9 -1237T>C, TLR9+ 2848G>A, and IRAKM +22148G>A SNPs were performed in 157 ileal-pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) patients (79 patients who did not develop pouchitis, 43 infrequent pouchitis patients,35 chronic relapsing pouchitis patients) and 224 Italian Caucasian healthy controls.RESULTS: No significant differences were found in SNP frequencies between controls and IPAA patients.However, a significant difference in carriership frequency of the TLR9-1237C allele was found between the infrequent pouchitis and chronic relapsing pouchitis groups [P = 0.028, odd's ratio (OR) = 3.2, 95%CI = 1.2-8.6].This allele uniquely represented a 4-locus TLR9 haplotype comprising both studied TLR9 SNPs in Caucasians.Carrier trait analysis revealed an enhanced combined carriership of the alleles TLR9 -1237C and CD14 -260T in the chronic relapsing pouchitis and infrequent pouchitis group (P = 0.018, OR = 4.1, 95%CI = 1.4 -12.3).CONCLUSION: There is no evidence that the SNPs predispose to the need for IPAA surgery. The significant increase of the combined carriership of the CD14 -260T and TLR9 -1237C alleles in the chronic relapsing pouchitis group suggests that these markers identify a subgroup of IPAA patients with a risk of developing chronic or refractory pouchitis.

LBP and CD14 polymorphisms correlate with increased colorectal carcinoma risk in Han Chinese

AIM: To explore the associations of polymorphisms of lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP), cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) with the colorectal carcinoma (CRC) risk in Han Chinese. METHODS: Polymorphisms of LBP (rs1739654, rs223 2596, rs2232618), CD14 (rs77083413, rs4914), TLR-4 (rs5030719), IL-6 (rs13306435) and TNF-α (rs35131721) were genotyped in 479 cases of sporadic colorectal carcinoma and 486 healthy controls of Han Chinese in a case-control study. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) between cases and controls were analyzed by unconditional logistic regression. RESULTS: GA and GG genotypes of LBP rs2232596 were associated with a significantly increased risk ofCRC [odds ratio (OR) = 1.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15-1.99, P = 0.003; OR = 2.49, 95% CI 1.16-5.38, P = 0.016, respectively]. A similar association was also observed for the CG genotype of CD14 rs4914 (OR= 1.69, 95% CI 1.20-2.36, P = 0.002). In addition, a combination of polymorphisms in LBP rs2232596 and CD14 rs4914 led to a 3.4-fold increased risk of CRC (OR = 3.44, 95% CI 1.94-6.10, P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: This study highlights the LBP rs2232596 and CD14 rs4914 polymorphisms as biomarkers for elevated CRC susceptibility in the Chinese Han population.

The effects of ischemia-reperfusion injury and hepatic artery ischemia on CD14 expression in canine auto-transplantation livers

Objective： To study the effect of ischemia-reperfusion injury（IRI） and hepatic artery ischemia（HAI） on CD14 expression in canine auto-transplantation livers. Methods：Liver orthotopic auto-transplantation models were applied with 30 healthy male Xi＇ an canines which were randomly divided into a control group, simultaneous reperfusion（SR） group and HAI group, CD14 protein expression, Malonaldehyde （MDA） Contents in hepatic tissues and ALT values in serum were detected, and the pathological changes of hepatic tissues was investigated under the light microscopy. Results：The level of CD14 protein expression in SR and HAI group tended to be time-dependent and both higher than controls with statistical significance（P 〈 0.01）; The peak values of these two groups both occurred at 4 h, but the level in HAI group （11.94 ± 0.43） was evidently higher than that in SR group（3.04 ± 0.34）. MDA contents in liver tissue, ALT values in serum and pathological changes showed the same changing tendency as CD 14 expression. Conclusion：（1） Up-regulation of CD14 expression may be the receptor-mechanism of Kupffer cells（KCs） activation in liver transplantation. （2） HAI can upregulate CD14 expression after portal vein reperfusion, improve the activity of KCs further more, increase OFRs production and cooperate with portal reperfusion, and finally aggravate the grafts injury.

Association of promoter polymorphism of the CD14 C (-159) T endotoxin receptor gene with chronic hepatitis B

AIM: To investigate whether single-nucleotide polymor- phisms in the promoter regions of endotoxin-responsive genes CD14 C (-159) T is associated with chronic hepatitis B. METHODS: We obtained genomic DNA from 80 patients with established diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B and 126 healthy subjects served as a control population. The CD 14 C (-159) T polymorphism was investigated using an allele specific PCR method. RESULTS: Twenty seven percent of chronic hepatitis B patients and 75% of controls were heterozygous for CT genotype. The difference between the chronic hepatitis B and control groups was statistically significant [P < 0.0001; Odds ratio (OR) = 2.887; 95% CI: 1.609-5.178]. Twenty four point six percent of chronic hepatitis B and patients 12.3% of the control group were heterozygous for TT genotype. The difference between groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.256; OR = 0.658; 95% CI: 0.319-1.358). Forty eight point four percent of chronic hepatitis B patients and 12.7% of control were homozy- gote for CC genotype (P < 0.004; OR = 0.416; 95% CI: 0.229-0.755). The frequency of allele C was 61.9% and allele T was 38.1% in hepatitis B patients group. The frequency of allele C was 55.2% and allele T was 44.8% for the control group (P = 0.179; OR = 1.319; 95% CI: 0.881-1.977). CONCLUSION: The TT heterozygous genotype was not a risk factor for chronic hepatitis B. CC homozygote genotype is protective for hepatitis B. Lack of heterozy- gosis of genotype CT is a risk factor for chronic hepatitis B. Alleles C or T were not risk factors for chronic hepatitis B. These findings show the role of a single-nucleotide polymorphism at CD14/-159 on the development ofchronic hepatitis B. Endotoxin susceptibility may play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B.

Different effects of a CD14 gene polymorphism on disease outcome in patients with alcoholic liver disease and chronic hepatitis C infection

AIM: Clinical and experimental data suggest that gut-derived endotoxins are an important pathogenic factors for progression of chronic liver disease. Recently, a C-T (-159)polymorphism in the promoter region of the CD14 gene was detected and found to confer increased CD14 expression and to be associated with advanced alcoholic liver damage. Here, we investigated this polymorphism in patients with less advanced alcoholic liver disease (ALD)and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.METHODS: CD14 genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP analysis in (a) 121 HCV patients, (b) 62 patients with alcohol-associated cirrhosis (Alc-Ci), (c) 118 individuals with heavy alcohol abuse without evidence of advanced liver damage (Alc-w/o Ci), and (d) 247 healthy controls.Furthermore, serum levels of soluble CD14 (sCD14) and transaminases were determined.RESULTS: The TT genotype was significantly more frequent in Alc-Ci compared to Alc-w/o Ci or controls (40.3% vs 23.7% or 24.0%, respectively). In Alc-w/o Ci,serum levels of transaminases did not differ significantly between patients with different CD14 genotypes. In HCV patients, TT-homozygotes had significantly higher sCD14 levels and sCD14 serum levels were significantly higher in patients with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis. However,no association was found between CD14 genotypes and histological staging or grading.CONCLUSION: Considering serum transaminases as surrogate markers for alcoholic liver damage, the CD14 polymorphism seems to exhibit different effects during the course of ALD. Differences in genotype distribution between cirrhotic HCV patients and alcoholics and the known functional impact of this polymorphism on CD14 expression levels further indicate differences in the pathophysiological role of CD14 and CD14-mediated lipopolysaccharides signal transduction with regard to the stage as well as the type of the underlying liver disease.

A novel,rapid strategy to form dendritomas from human dendritic cells and hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HCCLM3 cells using mature dendritic cells derived from human peripheral blood CD14+monocytes within 48 hours of in vitro culture

AIM: Dendritomas formed by fusing cancer cells to dendritic cells have already been applied to clinical treatment trial of several types of cancers. Dendritic cells for the fusion in most trials and experiments were from blood monocytes in standard 7-d protocol culture, which requires 5-7 d of culture with granulocyte-macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-4 (IL-4), followed by 2-3 d of activation with a combination of proinflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factorα (TNFα), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2).One study showed that mature monocyte-derived dendritic cells could be obtained within 48 h of in vitro culture with the same protocol as standard 7-d culture and referred to as FastDCs. Here we aimed to fuse human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HCCLM3 cells with mature monocytederived dendritic cells within 48 h of in vitro culture (FastDC).METHODS: HCCLM3 cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 with 150 mL/L fetal calf serum (FCS). CD14+monocytes from healthy human peripheral blood were purified with MACS CD14 isolation kit and cultured in six-well plates in fresh complete DC medium containing RPMI-1640, 20 mL/L heat inactivated human AB serum, 2 mmol/1 L-glutamine,100 μg/mL gentamicin, 1000 U/mL GM-CSF and 500 U/mL IL-4 for 24 h, then proinflammatory mediators such as TNFα(1000 U/mL), IL-1β (10 ng/mL), IL-6 (10 ng/mL) and PGE2(1 μg/mL) were supplemented for another 24 h, and thus mature FastDCs were generated. HCCLM3 cells and FastDCs were labeled with red fluorescent dye PKH26-GL and green fluorescent dye PKH67-GL respectively. After the red fluorescent-stained HCCLM3 cells were irradiated with 50 Gy, FastDCs and irradiated HCCLM3 cells were fused in 500 mL/1 polyethylene glycol(PEG)+100 mL/L dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to generate novel dendritornas. The FastDCs and novel dendritomas were immunostained with antiCD80, anti-CD86, anti-CD83, anti-HLA-DR mAbs and analyzed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS).Novel dendritomas were nucleus-stained with Hoechst 33258 and analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy.RESULTS: Mature FastDCs with highly expressed surface markers CD80, CD86, CD83 and HLA-DR were generated within 48 h in vitro. Novel dendritomas with dual red-green fluorescence were constructed fast and successfully, and FACS analysis showed that the fusion efficiency was 24.27% and the novel dendritomas expressed the same activation markers as FastDCs. Confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis showed representative images of dendritomas.CONCLUSION: Dendritomas can be formed fast with mature FastDCs from healthy human peripheral blood monocytes (PBMC) by incubation with GM-CSF and IL-4 for 24 h and by activation with proinflammatory mediators for an additional period of 24 h. Owing to shorter time required for in vitro DCs development, the generation of these novel dendritomas reduced labor and cost. This rapid method for formation of dendritomas may represent a new strategy for immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma.

YKL40 expression in CD14^+ liver cells in acute and chronic injury

AIM:To demonstrate that CD14 + cells are an important source of the growth factor YKL40 in acute and chronic liver damage.METHODS:Rats were inoculated with one dose of CCl4 to induce acute damage.Liver biopsies were obtained at 0,6,12,24,48 and 72 h.For chronic damage,CCl4 was administered three days per week for 6 or 8 wk.Tissue samples were collected,and cellular populations were isolated by liver digestion and purified by cell sorting.YKL40 mRNA and protein expression were evaluated by realtime polymerase chain reaction and western blot.RESULTS:Acute liver damage induced a rapid increase of YKL40 mRNA beginning at 12 h.Expression peaked at 24 h,with a 26fold increase over basal levels.By 72 h however,YKL40 expression levels had nearly returned to control levels.On the other hand,chronic damage induced a sustained increase in YKL40 expression,with 7and 9fold higher levels at 6 and 8 wk,respectively.The pattern of YKL40 expression in different subpopulations showed that CD14+cells,which include Kupffer cells,are a source of YKL40 after acute damage at 72 h[0.09 relative expression units(REU)]as well as after chronic injury at 6 wk(0.11 REU).Hepatocytes,in turn,accounted for 0.06 and 0.01 REU after 72 h(acute)or 6 wk(chronic),respectively.The rest of the CD14cells(including T lymphocytes,B lymphocytes,natural killer and natural killer T cells) yielded 0.07 and 0.15 REU at 72 h and 6 wk,respectively.YKL40 protein expression in liver was detected at 72 h as well as 6 and 8 wk,with the highest expression relative to controls(11fold;P≤0.05)seen at 6 wk.Macrophages were stimulated by lipopolysaccharide.We demonstrate that under these conditions,these cells showed maximum expression of YKL40 at 12 h,with P<0.05 compared with controls.CONCLUSION:Hepatic CD14 + cells are an YKL40 mRNA and protein source in acute and chronic liver injury,with expression patterns similar to growth factors implicated in inflammationfibrogenesis.

The human leucocyte differentiation antigens (HLDA) workshops: the evolv-ing role of antibodies in research, diagnosis and therapy

The 8th International Workshop on Human Leucocyte Differentiation Antigens (chaired by Zola H and managed by Swart B) was run over a 4-year period and culminated in a conference in December 2004. Here we review the achieve- ments of the HLDA Workshops and provide links to information on CD molecules and antibodies against them, including the 93 new CDs assigned in the 8th Workshop. We consider what remains to be achieved (including an estimate of the number of leucocyte surface molecules still to be discovered), and how the field can best move forward.

Endotoxin receptor CD14 gene variants and histological features in chronic HCV infection

AIM:To analyze the correlation between CD14 rs2569190/C-159T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and disease progression in chronic hepatitis C.METHODS: Liver biopsy specimens from a total of 137 and 349 patients with chronic hepatitis C were separately evaluated with respect to necroinflammatory activity (grading) and architectural changes (staging). In one group, further histological lesions characteristic for hepatitis C, hepatitis C virus subtypes, and biochemical parameters of liver disease were also investigated. Samples of genomic DNA were genotyped for the respective SNP by 5'-nuclease assays using fluorescent dye-labeled allele-specif ic probes.RESULTS: Genotype distribution did not deviate from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. In the first group, patients homozygous for the variant allele T were found to be younger than C allele carriers (39.6±12.5 vs 45.7±11.5, P=0.008). Among the histological lesions studied, portal lymphoid aggregates were more frequently observed among TT homozygotes than among C carriers (21/37 vs 32/100, P=0.008). The presence of portal lymphoid aggregates was closely correlated with hepatic inflammation (P=0.003) and with bile duct damage (P<0.001). The degree of fibrosis, in contrast, was not found to be related to the CD14 gene C-159T polymorphism.CONCLUSION: The data suggest a possible relationship between CD14 C-159T polymorphism and the formation of portal lymphoid aggregates, but not liver fibrosis progression in chronic hepatitis C.

The U937 cell line induced to express CD14 protein by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and be sensitive to endotoxin stimulation

BACKGROUND: CD14 was first described as a differentia- tion antigen on the surface of myeloid lineage cells. It acts as a glycosylphosphatidylinositol ( GPI)-anchored receptor for the complex of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and plays a key role in the activation of LPS-induced monocytes. The purpose of this study was to observe the expression of CD14 protein and its gene in the human U937 promonocytic cell line when these cells were exposed to 1,25-dihydroxyvita- min D3 ( VitD3 ) and investigate their sensitivity to endo- toxin stimulation. METHODS: U937 cells were exposed to (0.1 μmol) VitD3 for 24 hours and were induced to express the CD14 mRNA gene and CD14 protein, then their responses were observed when they were stimulated with different concentrations of LPS for different time. RESULTS: The U937 cells induced by VitD3 were found to stably express CD14 mRNA and CD14 protein. And CD14 protein enhanced the sensitivity of U937/CD14 cells to li- popolysaccharide ( LPS ) stimulation. NF-ΚB in U937/ CD14 cells can be activated with low concentration of LPS (1 ng/ml-10 ng/ml), the TNF-α mRNA gene was in- duced , and then TNF-α was produced and released into the supernatant of culture. CONCLUSION: VitD3 can induce U937 cell to express the CD14 gene and CD14 protein and enhance the response of this type of cells to LPS stimulation.