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Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms of liver fibrosis is important to develop effective therapy. Herein, we show that focal-adhesion-kinse (FAK) plays a key role in promoting hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation in vitro and liver fibrosis progression in vivo. FAK activation is associated with increased expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen in fibrotic live tissues. Transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) induces FAK activation in a time and dose dependent manner. FAK activation precedes the α-SMA expression in HSCs. Inhibition of FAK activation blocks the α-SMA and collagen expression, and inhibits the formation of stress fibers in TGF-β1 treated HSCs. Furthermore, inhibition of FAK activation significantly reduces HSC migration and small GTPase activation, and induces apoptotic signaling in TGF-β1 treated HSCs. Importantly, FAK inhibitor attenuates liver fibrosis in vivo and significantly reduces collagen and α-SMA expression in an animal model of liver fibrosis. These data demonstrate that FAK plays an essential role in HSC activation and liver fibrosis progression, and FAK signaling pathway could be a potential target for liver fibrosis.

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading pathogen worldwide and its pathogenesis remains unclear. Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the secretion of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) from A549 pneumocytes stimulated by different S. pneumoniae strains and the mechanism of blood-derived S. pneumoniae (bd-SP) in invading the blood system. Methods: Twenty-three clinical strains of S. pneumoniae isolated in 2009 along with ATCC49619 were cultured and suspended in 2018. Then, A549 pneumocytes were resuspended after culture and collection, and inoculated into culture plates. Streptococcus pneumoniae suspensions were then inoculated. Normal saline was blank control. The plates were incubated for four and eight hours. Then, the suspensions were collected and centrifuged. The supernatant was analyzed for IL-8 and ICAM-1 by ELISA. Results: The concentrations of IL-8 were 180.6, 188.5, 223.4 ± 19.9, and 230.3 ± 38.6 pg/mL for blank control, ATCC49619, blood-derived S. pneumoniae (bd-SP) and sputum-derived S. pneumoniae (sd-SP) at four-hour stimulation, respectively, and 249.2, 275.7, 224.0 ± 27.8, and 242.3 ± 33.1 pg/mL at eight-hour stimulation. The concentrations of ICAM-1 were 14.8, 12.1, 19.9 ± 17.2, and 26.1 ± 28.6 ng/mL for blank control, ATCC49619, bd-SP, and sd-SP at 4 hours, respectively, and 32.6, 150.8, 69.4 ± 45.1, and 58.7 ± 30.1 ng/mL at 8 hours. Conclusions: Streptococcus pneumoniae could upregulate the secretion of IL-8 and ICAM-1 from A549 pneumocytes. No significant difference was found between bd-SP and sd-SP which was in contrast to what was found between clinical S. pneumoniae and ATCC49619. Host response may not be a vital factor for different S. pneumoniae infections.

BACKGROUND Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP) is a Gram-positive, alpha-hemolytic, facultative anaerobic member of the genus Streptococcus. The erythromycin-resistant methylase (erm) gene and macrolide efflux (mef) gene are the 2 main genes that can mediate SP. Transposon (Tn) also plays an important role in the collection and metastasis of the gene. In the present study we investigated the drug resistance characteristics and the macrolide-resistant mechanisms of SP in Wenzhou City, China. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sixty-eight strains of SP were isolated from sputum samples of hospitalized children in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University. These strains were analyzed using antimicrobial susceptibility tests to determine their drug resistance to 10 kinds of antibacterials. Macrolide-resistant phenotypes were identified using K-B method. PCR method was used to analyze the erm B gene, mef A gene, and int Tn gene. RESULTS Drug resistance rates of 68 strains of SP were 98.5%, 100.0%, 63.2%, 52.9%, 94.1%, 89.7%, 0.0%, 0.0%, 16.2%, and 14.7% for clindamycin, erythromycin, penicillin G, cefotaxime, tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, levofloxacin, vancomycin, chloramphenicol, and amoxicillin, respectively. Total detection rates of the erm B gene, mef A gene, and int Tn gene were 98.5%, 91.2%, and 100.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS SP shows significant multi-drug resistance in Wenzhou City, whereas there is no clinical value of macrolides antibiotics for SP. cMLSB mediated by erm B gene is the most predominant phenotype among macrolide-resistant SP. The int Tn gene may play an important role in horizontal transfer and clonal dissemination of SP drug resistance genes in Wenzhou City.

Objective: This study aims to observe changes in the expression of the hepatic endoplasmic reticulum stress PERK-eIF2α-ATF4 signaling pathway protein in the progression of CCl(4)-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats were sacrificed at the end of the 2(nd), 4(th), 8(th) and 12(th) weeks, respectively. A specific test was performed to compare the pathological changes of hepatic tissues in the model and normal groups. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot were carried out to detect the expression of p-PERK, p-eIF2α and ATF4 proteins in the hepatic tissue group. Furthermore, real-time PCR was used to detect changes in the expression of ATF4 mRNA in hepatic tissues. Results: In the eight-week and twelve-week hepatic fibrosis group, significant fibrosis hyperplasia was identified in the livers of rats, and pseudo-lobules were also formed in the livers of rats in the twelve-week hepatic fibrosis group. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot results indicated that the expression levels of p-PERK, p-eIF2α and the ATF4 protein in the livers of rats were significantly increased from the 8(th) week compared with the normal group (P

This paper proposed a new grasping method for robot fingers with three-axis force sensors. When a robot hand with two fingers is grasping an object, such as an egg, two closed loops with negative feedback in force-control system are start. When grasping force of the two fingers are equal reference force, dynamic balance is reached. Once tiny sliding between egg and finger occurred, force feedback start immediately, dynamic balance is reached again. In this way, our robot hand can firmly grasps eggs, even if vibration added on the robot hand.

Background As the second leading cause of cancer morbidity and death in women, cervical cancer remains an important public health problem worldwide. Novel biomarkers with high sensitivity and specificity for the early detection and diagnosis of cervical cancer are urgently needed. Increasing evidence shows that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are differentially expressed in cancer tissues and may serve as diagnostic markers. In multiple tumor types, exosomes harboring lncRNAs are actively released from tumor cells. In this study, we investigate the potential association of exosomal lncRNA expression with cervical cancer. Methods Cervicovaginal lavage specimens were collected from patients with cervical cancer and cancer-free volunteers who are HPV-positive or HPV-negative. Exosomes in these specimens were isolated by ultracentrifugation and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The exosomal lncRNAs HOTAIR, MALAT1, and MEG3 were quantified by qRT-PCR. Results Expression of HOTAIR, MALAT1 and MEG3 was predominantly observed in cervical cancer-derived exosomes in cervicovaginal lavage samples. The expression levels of lncRNAs were significantly different in exosomes isolated from cervical cancer patients compared to normal controls. Conclusions Our data suggest that lncRNAs in exosomes isolated from cervicovaginal lavage are differentially expressed in cervical cancer patients and cancer-free volunteers. Exosomal lncRNAs may have great potential to be used for the early detection and diagnosis of cervical cancer, and serve as convenient and noninvasive biomarkers.

Rationale Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is a potent pro-inflammatory mediator and its expression is up-regulated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Tristetraprolin (TTP) is implicated in regulation of TNF-α expression; however, whether TTP is involved in cigarette smoke-induced TNF-α expression has not been determined. Methods TTP expression was examined by western blot analysis in murine alveolar macrophages and alveolar epithelial cells challenged without or with cigarette smoke extract (CSE). TNF-α mRNA stability, and the decay of TNF-α mRNA, were determined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. TNF-α protein levels were examined at the same time in these cells. To identify the molecular mechanism involved, a construct expressing the human beta-globin reporter mRNA containing the TNF-α 3’-untranslated region was generated to characterize the TTP targeted site within TNF-α mRNA. Results CSE induced TTP down-regulation in alveolar macrophages and alveolar epithelial cells. Reduced TTP expression resulted in significantly increased TNF-α mRNA stability. Importantly, increased TNF-α mRNA stability due to impaired TTP function resulted in significantly increased TNF-α levels in these cells. Forced TTP expression abrogated the increased TNF-α mRNA stability and expression induced by CSE. By using the globin reporter construct containing TNF-α mRNA 3’-untranslated region, the data indicate that TTP directly targets the adenine- and uridine-rich region (ARE) of TNF-α mRNA and negatively regulates TNF-α expression at the post-transcriptional level. Conclusion The data demonstrate that cigarette smoke exposure reduces TTP expression and impairs TTP function, resulting in significantly increased TNF-α mRNA stability and excessive TNF-α expression in alveolar macrophages and epithelial cells. The data suggest that TTP is a novel post-transcriptional regulator and limits excessive TNF-α expression and inflammatory response induced by cigarette smoke.

Twenty‑three clinical Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP) strains were isolated from blood and sputum specimens from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College in 2009. These strains and the ATCC 49619 standard strain were cultured and suspended in normal saline (at a turbidity of 1.0 McFarland). The production of interleukin (IL)‑8, intracellular adhesion molecule‑1 (ICAM‑1) and IL‑10 in THP‑1 cells following stimulation with the SP suspension was analyzed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The concentrations of IL‑8, ICAM‑1 and IL‑10 from the THP‑1 monocytes were greater than those of the blank control following stimulation with the SP suspension. No significant difference was identified in the levels of IL‑8, ICAM‑1 and IL‑10 secretion between THP‑1 monocytes stimulated by blood‑borne SP (bb‑SP) and sputum‑borne SP (sb‑SP).

To compare and analyze the differential expression of proteins between coal-burning arsenism serum and normal human serum and identify the proteins related with arseniasis caused by coal-burning.Serum samples were collected from 6 normal subjects and 6 patients suffering from coal-burning arsenism. 2-DE was performed to separate serum proteins. After silver staining, the differential expression of proteins was analyzed and then identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS).There were an average of 779 +/- 35 spots and 865 +/- 30 spots on 2-DE matching of two groups and the matching rate was 90.1% between two groups. From these two groups, 60 different protein spots were identified. Up-regulated expression was observed in 25 proteins and down-regulated expression in 35 proteins in the patient serum group. Among which 35 with differential expression above three times were singled out and MALDI-TOF-MS analysis was carried out on them. Thirteen proteins were identified, including keratin 10, apolipoprotein A-V, transferrin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, human zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein, mitogen-activated protein kinase 3, vacuolar protein sorting 33A, O-linked GlcNAc transferase and etc. Up-regulated expression was observed in 5 proteins and down-regulated expression in 8 proteins in the patient serum group.The well-resolved and reproducible 2-DE serum patterns of patients suffering from coal-burning arsenism were established and some differentially expressed proteins characterized. These data will be used to screen the biomarker and to further study arseniasis caused by coal-burning.

To develop the 2-DE profiles of proteome from hepatic fibrosis tissue and preliminarily analyze the differential expression of proteome.The differential expression of proteins were analyzed by imaging analysis and MALDI-TOF-MS after the total protein was extracted from the hepatic fibrosis tissue and the normal liver tissue by 2-DE. 3 proteins were verified by in Western-blotting.Fifty-nine differentially expressed protein were found in the proteome profile analysis of these two types of tissue, among which 30 protein spots were up-regulated and 29 protein spots were down-regulated in these hepatic fibrosis tissues. Fifteen protein spots with the differential expressions more than 3 times were analyzed by peptide mass fingerprint (PMF) and 10 differentially expressed proteins were found to be related with cell signal transduction, cell proliferation, and oxidative stress. Western-blotting results of 14-3-3beta, DJ-1, and PEBP were consistent with those by the 2-DE examination.Some differentially expressed proteins have been found in the hepatic fibrosis tissue and the normal liver tissue. These data provided a fundamental basis for further study of the mechanism of hepatic fibrogenesis. Proteome

To investigate the effects of Danshaohuaxian (DSHX), a Chinese herbal recipe, on the apoptosis and cell cycles of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in rat hepatic fibrosis and its possible mechanisms.Seventy-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group, hepatic fibrosis group, non-DSHX-treated group and DSHX-treated group. Except for the normal control group, rat hepatic fibrotic models were induced by subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), drinking alcohol, giving diet of hyperlipid and hypoprotein for 8 wk. When the hepatic fibrotic models were produced, 12 rats of hepatic fibrosis group (15 rats survived, others died during the 8 wk) were sacrificed to collect blood and livers. HSCs were isolated from the other 3 rats to detect the apoptotic index (AI) and cell cycles by flow cytometry. DSHX was then given to the DSHX-treated group (1.0 g/kg, PO, daily) for 8 wk. At the same time, normal control group and non-DSHX-treated group were given normal saline for 8 wk. At end of the experiment, some rats in these three groups were sacrificed to collect blood and livers, the other rats were used for HSC isolation to detect the apoptotic index (AI) and cell cycles. Then the liver index, serum hyaluronic acid (HA) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), degree of hepatic fibrosis, urinary excretion of hydroxyproline (Hyp) and expression of collagen types I and III (COL I and III) in these four groups were detected respectively.Compared with the indexes of the hepatic fibrosis group and non-DSHX-treated group, the DSHX-treated group revealed a liver index of (0.0267+/-0.0017 vs 0.0423+/-0.0044, 0.0295+/-0.0019, P0.05), levels of serum HA (200.78+/-31.71 vs 316.17+/-78.48, 300.86+/-72.73, P0.05) and ALT (93.13+/-5.79 vs 174.5+/-6.02, 104.75+/-6.54, P0.01), and stage of hepatic fibrosis (1.30 vs 4.25, 2.60, P0.01) all reduced. The urinary excretion of Hyp increased (541.09+/-73.39 vs 62.00+/-6.40, 182.44+/-30.83, P0.01), the COL I and III expression decreased (COL I: 1.07+/-0.96 vs 4.18+/-2.26, 3.22+/-1.44, P0.01; COL III: 1.09+/-0.58 vs 3.04+/-0.62, 2.23+/-0.58, P0.01), the HSCs apoptotic index of HSCs (7.81+/-0.47 vs 1.63+/-0.25, 1.78+/-0.4, P0.05) and the ratio of G0-G1 phase cells increased (94.30+/-1.33 vs 62.27+/-17.96, 50.53+/-2.25, P0.05). The ratios of S-phase cells (3.11+/-1.27 vs 9.83+/-1.81, 11.87+/-1.9, P0.05) and G2-M phase cells (2.58+/-0.73 vs 23.26+/-10.95, 13.60+/-1.15, P0.01) declined.DSHX capsule shows certain therapeutic effects on hepatic fibrosis in rats and inhibits abnormal deposition of COL I and III in rat livers by promoting the apoptosis of HSCs and preventing their proliferation.

Hepatic fibrosis is the common pathological change in various chronic liver diseases, and its major cause is the imbalance between the production and degradation of the extracellular matrix, which is mainly composed of collagens. Dan-Shao-Hua-Xian (DSHX) capsule, a traditional Chinese herbal compound, has shown marked preventive effects on hepatic fibrosis in rats in our previous studies. The present study was designed to further investigate its therapeutic actions on hepatic fibrosis in rats and its possible mechanisms.Eighty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group, hepatic fibrosis group, non-DSHX-treated group, low-dose-treated group, and high-dose-treated group. The rat models of hepatic fibrosis were established by subcutaneous injecton of CCl4, drinking alcohol, giving diet of hyperliprosis and hypoprotein for 8 weeks. The two DSHX-treated groups were treated respectively with low dose (0.5 g/kg) and high dose (1.0 g/kg) of DSHX capsule p.o. everyday for 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, liver indexes were calculated in each group in addition to the levels of the serum hyaluronic acid and alanine aminotransferase. Their degree of hepatic fibrosis and urinary excretion of hydroxyproline and expression of collagen I, III were detected.Comparison of the indexes of the hepatic fibrosis group and non-DSHX-treated group revealed that the liver indexes, levels of serum hyaluronic acid and alanine aminotransferase, and stage of hepatic fibrosis were all significantly reduced in the two DSHX treated groups. The urinary excretion of hydroxyproline was increased and the expression of collagen I and III in liver tissue was lessened. These alterations were more obviously observed in the high-dose-treated group.DSHX capsule has certain therapeutic effect on hepatic fibrosis in rats.

AIM: To investigate the effects of Danshao Huaxian (DSHX) capsules, a preparation of traditional Chinese medicine, on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in the fibrous livers of rats. METHODS: Eighty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group (group A), CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis group (group B), non-DSHX-treated group (group C), low dose-treated group (group D), and high dose-treated group (group E). Fibrous liver models in rats were induced by subcutaneous injection of CCl4, oral administration of alcohol and high-lipid/low-protein diet for 8 wk. After the models were established, the rats in groups D and E were orally given a low dose (0.5 g/kg) and a high dose (1.0 g/kg) of DSHX daily for 8 wk, respectively. Then, the liver indexes, serum hyaluronic acid (HA) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were examined. The degree of hepatic fibrosis was evaluated by optical microscopy. Hydroxyproline (Hyp) in the urine was determined, and the expression of MMP-1 and TIMP-1 was detected by immunohistochemical techniques. RESULTS: In groups D and E, the liver indexes, levels of serum HA and ALT reduced and development of hepatic fibrosis weakened significantly. The urinary Hyp and expression of MMP-1 in the liver tissues elevated, but the expression of TIMP-1 decreased obviously, as compared to groups B and C. CONCLUSION: DSHX enhances the expression of MMP-1 but decreases that of TIMP-1 in liver tissues of CCl4-induced hepatic fibrotic rats, which may result in its elevated activity that contributes to fighting against hepatic fibrosis.

Background Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP) is the major cause of childhood mortality worldwide, we need to understand virulence genes of SP so can better target the treatment. We investigated the expression of virulence genes PsaA and CpsA in different strains of SP interacting with monocyte cell line (THP-1) or pneumocyte cell line (A549) and the possible mechanism of SP invasion of the blood system. Methods A total of 23 strains of SP were collected from hospitalized patients (blood-derived and sputum-derived) in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College. The strains and ATCC 49619 were cultured, and RNAs were extracted. THP-1 and A549 cells were stimulated by different SP and ATCC 49619 for 4 h and 8 h, respectively. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to analyze the mRNA expression of PsaA and CpsA. The data were analyzed by SPSS 17.0. Results The mRNA level of PsaA and CpsA were all significantly increased in clinical SP strains when compared to ATCC49619 after tedTHP-1 and A549 cells were stimulated. Clinical SPs showed higher virulence compared with ATCC49619. Conclusions The expression of CpsA is the basis of the pathogenicity of SP. The expression of virulence gene PsaA may be helpful to the invasion of SP to the blood system.