Characterization of acute-on-chronic liver diseases: A multicenter prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Acute-on-chronic liver disease (AoCLD) accounts for the majority of patients hospitalized in the Department of Hepatology or Infectious Diseases. AIM: To explore the characterization of AoCLD to provide theoretical guidance for the accurate diagnosis and prognosis of AoCLD. METHODS: Patients with AoCLD from the Chinese Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure (ACLF) study cohort were included in this study. The clinical characteristics and outcomes, and the 90-d survival rate associated with each clinical type of AoCLD were analyzed, using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test. RESULTS: A total of 3375 patients with AoCLD were enrolled, including 1679 (49.7%) patients with liver cirrhosis acute decompensation (LC-AD), 850 (25.2%) patients with ACLF, 577 (17.1%) patients with chronic hepatitis acute exacerbation (CHAE), and 269 (8.0%) patients with liver cirrhosis active phase (LC-A). The most common cause of chronic liver disease (CLD) was HBV infection (71.4%). The most common precipitants of AoCLD was bacterial infection (22.8%). The 90-d mortality rates of each clinical subtype of AoCLD were 43.4% (232/535) for type-C ACLF, 36.0% (36/100) for type-B ACLF, 27.0% (58/215) for type-A ACLF, 9.0% (151/1679) for LC-AD, 3.0% (8/269) for LC-A, and 1.2% (7/577) for CHAE. CONCLUSION: HBV infection is the main cause of CLD, and bacterial infection is the main precipitant of AoCLD. The most common clinical type of AoCLD is LC-AD. Early diagnosis and timely intervention are needed to reduce the mortality of patients with LC-AD or ACLF.

CB2R agonist GW405833 alleviates acute liver failure in mice via inhibiting HIF-1α-mediated reprogramming of glycometabolism and macrophage proliferation.

The inflammatory responses involving infiltration and activation of liver macrophages play a vital role in acute liver failure (ALF). In the liver of ALF mice, cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2R) is significantly upregulated on macrophages, while CB2R agonist GW405833 (GW) could protect against cell death in acute liver damage. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effects of GW against ALF in vivo and in vitro from a perspective of macrophage glycometabolism. Mice were pretreated with GW (10 mg/kg, i.p.), then were injected with D-GalN (750 mg/kg, i.p.) and LPS (10 mg/kg, i.p.) to induce ALF. We verified the protective effects of GW pretreatment in ALF mice. Furthermore, GW pretreatment significantly reduced liver macrophage infiltration and M1 polarization, and inhibited the release of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-1ß in ALF mice. These protective effects were eliminated by CB2R antagonist SR144528 or in CB2R-/- ALF mice. We used LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells as an in vitro M1 macrophage-centered model of inflammatory response, and demonstrated that pretreatment with GW (10 µM) significantly reduced glucose metabolism by inhibiting glycolysis, which inhibited LPS-induced macrophage proliferation and inflammatory cytokines release. We verified these results in a stable CB2R-/- RAW264.7 cell line. Moreover, we found that GW significantly inhibited the expression of hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α). Using a stable HIF-1α-/- RAW264.7 cell line, we confirmed that GW reduced the release of inflammatory cytokines from macrophages and inhibited glycolysis by downregulating HIF-1α expression. In conclusion, activation of CB2Rs inhibits the proliferation of hepatic macrophages and release of inflammatory factors in ALF mice through downregulating HIF-1α to inhibit glycolysis.

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio represents a systemic inflammation marker and reflects the relationship with 90-day mortality in non-cirrhotic chronic severe hepatitis.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between systemic inflammatory response and short-term mortality in patients with non-cirrhotic chronic severe hepatitis (CSH) by using several indicators of inflammation including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), neutrophil (NEU), white blood cell (WBC), platelet-to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR). METHODS: Data were collected from two prospectively enrolled CATCH-LIFE noncirrhotic cohorts. Cox regression analysis was used to investigate the association between systemic inflammatory biomarkers and 90-day liver transplant (LT)-free mortality. A generalized additive model (GAM) was used to illustrate the quantitative curve relationship between NLR and 90-day LT-free mortality. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the 90-year LT-free survival. RESULTS: The prevalence of CSH was 20.5% (226/1103). The 28-day and 90-day LT-free mortality rates were 17.7% and 26.1%, respectively, for patients with non-cirrhotic CSH. Patients with no infection accounted for 75.0% of all CSH patients, and NLR was independently associated with 90-day LT-free mortality. NLR of 2.9 might be related to disease deterioration in CSH patients without infection. CONCLUSIONS: NLR may be an independent risk factor for 90-day LT-free mortality in patients with non-cirrhotic chronic liver disease. A NLR of 2.9 as the cut-off value can be used to predict disease aggravation in CSH patients without infection.

Comparison of methods of isolating extracellular vesicle microRNA from HepG2 cells for High-throughput sequencing.

Background: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) were reported to participate in various cellular processes based on the biomolecules, particularly microRNAs. Numerous commercial EVs isolation reagents are available. However, whether these reagents are suitable for separating EVs from the culture medium supernatant supernatant of model cell lines, such as HepG2, and whether the isolated products are suitable for High-throughput sequencing remains unclear. Methods: We examined three commonly used EVs isolation kits: the ExoQuick-TC exosome precipitation solution (EQ), Total Exosome Isolation from cell culture medium (EI), and exoEasy Maxi Kit (EM), to isolate EVs from HepG2 cell culture medium supernatants. EVs were identified based on marker proteins, particle size measurements, and electron microscopy analysis. The total amounts of microRNA and microRNA High-throughput sequencing data quality from EVs isolated by each kit were compared. Results: The total amount of EVs' microRNA isolated from the EI and EM groups were higher than that obtained from the EQ group (EQ/EI: p = 0.036, EI/EM: p = 0.024). High-throughput sequencing data quality evaluation showed that the EI group possessed higher quality than those in the EM group. Conclusion: For the cell culture medium from HepG2, EVs' microRNA isolated by EI reagents might be more suitable for High-throughput sequencing applications.

Prevalence and clinical characteristics of autoimmune liver disease in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis and acute decompensation in China.

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune liver disease (AILD) has been considered a relatively uncommon disease in China, epidemiological data for AILD in patients with cirrhosis and acute decompensation (AD) is sparse. AIM: To investigate the prevalence, outcome and risk factors for AILD in cirrhotic patients complicated with AD in China. METHODS: We collected data from patients with cirrhosis and AD from two prospective, multicenter cohorts in hepatitis B virus endemic areas. Patients were regularly followed up at the end of 28-d, 90-d and 365-d, or until death or liver transplantation (LT). The primary outcome in this study was 90-d LT-free mortality. Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) was assessed on admission and during 28-d hospitalization, according to the diagnostic criteria of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL). Risk factors for death were analyzed with logistic regression model. RESULTS: In patients with cirrhosis and AD, the overall prevalence of AILD was 9.3% (242/2597). Prevalence of ACLF was significantly lower in AILD cases (14%) than those with all etiology groups with cirrhosis and AD (22.8%) (P < 0.001). Among 242 enrolled AILD patients, the prevalence rates of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and PBC-AIH overlap syndrome (PBC/AIH) were 50.8%, 28.5% and 12.0%, respectively. In ACLF patients, the proportions of PBC, AIH and PBC/AIH were 41.2%, 29.4% and 20.6%. 28-d and 90-d mortality were 43.8% and 80.0% in AILD-related ACLF. The etiology of AILD had no significant impact on 28-d, 90-d or 365-d LT-free mortality in patients with cirrhosis and AD in both univariate and multivariate analysis. Total bilirubin (TB), hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were independent risk factors for 90-d LT-free mortality in multivariate analysis. The development of ACLF during hospitalization only independently correlated to TB and international normalized ratio. CONCLUSION: AILD was not rare in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis and AD in China, among which PBC was the most common etiology. 90-d LT-free mortality were independently associated with TB, HE and BUN.

Bioinformatics Analysis of miRNAs and mRNAs Network-Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction Exerts Neuroprotection of Traumatic Brain Injury Mice in the Subacute Phase.

Xuefu Zhuyu decoction (XFZYD) is used to treat traumatic brain injury (TBI). XFZYD-based therapies have achieved good clinical outcomes in TBI. However, the underlying mechanisms of XFZYD in TBI remedy remains unclear. The study aimed to identify critical miRNAs and putative mechanisms associated with XFYZD through comprehensive bioinformatics analysis. We established a controlled cortical impact (CCI) mice model and treated the mice with XFZYD. The high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) confirmed the quality of XFZYD. The modified neurological severity score (mNSS) and Morris water maze (MWM) tests indicated that XFZYD improved the neurological deficit (p < 0.05) and cognitive function (p < 0.01). Histological analysis validated the establishment of the CCI model and the treatment effect of XFZYD. HE staining displayed that the pathological degree in the XFZYD-treated group was prominently reduced. The transcriptomic data was generated using microRNA sequencing (miRNA-seq) of the hippocampus. According to cluster analysis, the TBI group clustered together was distinct from the XFZYD group. Sixteen differentially expressed (5 upregulated; 11 downregulated) miRNAs were detected between TBI and XFZYD. The reliability of the sequencing data was confirmed by qRT-PCR. Three miRNAs (mmu-miR-142a-5p, mmu-miR-183-5p, mmu-miR-96-5p) were distinctively expressed in the XFZYD compared with the TBI and consisted of the sequencing results. Bioinformatics analysis suggested that the MAPK signaling pathway contributes to TBI pathophysiology and XFZYD treatment. Subsequently, the functions of miR-96-5p, miR-183-5p, and miR-142a-5p were validated in vitro. TBI significantly induces the down-expression of miR-96-5p, and up-expression of inflammatory cytokines, which were all inhibited by miR-96-5p mimics. The present research provides an adequate fundament for further knowing the pathologic and prognostic process of TBI and supplies deep insights into the therapeutic effects of XFZYD.

Efficacy of Peginterferon alfa-2b in Nucleoside Analogue Experienced Patients with Negative HBeAg and Low HBsAg: A Non-Randomized Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) clearance is the treatment goal for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, its rate is extremely low with nucleoside (acid) analogues (NAs) monotherapy. Peginterferon could enhance HBsAg clearance. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of peginterferon alfa-2b (PegIFNα-2b) in NAs-experienced patients with CHB with negative HBeAg and low HBsAg level. METHODS: HBeAg-negative patients with CHB who had received NAs therapy over 24 weeks with HBsAg < 1500 IU/mL and HBV DNA < 100 IU/mL were enrolled. Patients received either PegIFNα-2b add-on therapy (n = 108) or continuous NAs monotherapy (n = 75). The primary endpoint was HBsAg clearance rate at week 48. RESULTS: At week 48, serum HBV DNA was undetectable among all PegIFNα-2b add-on therapy patients. Almost all patients maintained HBV DNA suppression in the PegIFNα-2b add-on group (100%, 108/108) and NAs monotherapy group (97.33%, 73/75). Only patients with PegIFNα-2b add-on therapy achieved HBsAg clearance (50.93%, 55/108) and HBsAg seroconversion (48.15%, 52/108) at week 48. Patients with baseline HBsAg < 100 IU/mL achieved the highest HBsAg clearance rate and HBsAg seroconversion rate at week 48 (60.87%, 28/46 and 58.70%, 27/46 respectively). HBsAg clearance and HBsAg seroconversion at week 72 had no significant difference with continuing or discontinuing PegIFNα-2b therapy after 48 weeks of treatment. PegIFNα-2b add-on therapy was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: PegIFNα-2b add-on therapy increases HBsAg clearance rate and seroconversion rate for HBeAg-negative patients with CHB, particularly for those with lower HBsAg level. It would be unnecessary to prolong PegIFNα-2b duration after 48 weeks of PegIFNα-2b treatment.

Melittin ameliorates inflammation in mouse acute liver failure via inhibition of PKM2-mediated Warburg effect.

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a fatal clinical syndrome with no special drug. Recent evidence shows that modulation of macrophage to inhibit inflammation may be a promising strategy for ALF treatment. In this study we investigated the potential therapeutic effects of melittin, a major peptide component of bee venom both in mice model of ALF and in LPS-stimulated macrophages in vitro, and elucidated the underlying mechanisms. ALF was induced in mice by intraperitoneal injection of D-galactosamine/LPS. Then the mice were treated with melittin (2, 4, and 8 mg/kg, ip). We showed that melittin treatment markedly improved mortality, attenuated severe symptoms and signs, and alleviated hepatic inflammation in D-galactosamine/LPS-induced ALF mice with the optimal dose being 4 mg/kg. In addition, melittin within the effective doses did not cause significant in vivo toxicity. In LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages, melittin (0.7 µM) exerted anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation effects. We showed that LPS stimulation promoted aerobic glycolysis of macrophages through increasing glycolytic rate, upregulated the levels of Warburg effect-related enzymes and metabolites including lactate, LDHA, LDH, and GLUT-1, and activated Akt/mTOR/PKM2/HIF-1α signaling. Melittin treatment suppressed M2 isoform of pyruvate kinase (PKM2), thus disrupted the Warburg effect to alleviate inflammation. Molecular docking analysis confirmed that melittin targeted PKM2. In LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages, knockdown of PKM2 caused similar anti-inflammation effects as melittin did. In D-galactosamine/LPS-induced ALF mice, melittin treatment markedly decreased the expression levels of PKM2 and HIF-1α in liver. This work demonstrates that melittin inhibits macrophage activation-mediated inflammation via inhibition of aerobic glycolysis by targeting PKM2, which highlights a novel strategy of using melittin for ALF treatment.

Update on neurological symptoms in patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2.

Novel coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) is the latest and most intense epidemic, which is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). In addition to causing respiratory symptoms, SARS-CoV-2 can have severe effects on the nervous system. Clinically, COVID-19 patients have been reported ranging from mild hypogeusia and hyposmia to severe neurological disorders, such as encephalopathy, encephalitis, strokes, and seizures syndrome. However, the pathological mechanisms of this SARS-CoV-2 neuro aggressiveness remain unclear, so it is of great significance to explore the neurological effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection. To facilitate clinicians to timely recognize the manifestations of COVID-19 patients with neurological injury and timely treatment, the author hereby reviews the latest research progress in the possible pathways, clinical manifestations, and pathogenesis of COVID-19 patients with nerve injury.

Early Diagnostic Biomarkers of Sepsis for Patients with Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure: A Multicenter Study.

INTRODUCTION: Sepsis is a complication in acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) patients associated with high rates of mortality and morbidity. Early diagnosis of sepsis in ACLF patients can improve prognosis. This study aimed to explore potential effective biomarkers for the early diagnosis of sepsis in ACLF patients. METHODS: Ninety-four ACLF patients with sepsis were enrolled from 10 hospitals across China from January 2015 to June 2016 as well as 49 ACLF patients without infection from Xiangya Hospital. The first-day admission data and SOFA score and CLIF-SOFA score were collected. The differences of indicators between groups were compared with Kruskal-Wallis test. The receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was analyzed to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of the selected factors. RESULTS: Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell-1 (sTREM-1) and presepsin were significantly higher in ACLF-sepsis patients compared with ACLF patients with no infection (P < 0.001). sTREM-1 and presepsin presented higher diagnostic value in sepsis for ACLF patients compared with other biomarkers [white blood cells (WBC), procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP)]. Combining sTREM-1 or presepsin with the CLIF-SOFA score increased the diagnostic efficiency (AUC = 0.876 or AUC = 0.913, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: sTREM-1 and presepsin are potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis of sepsis in ACLF patients. The combination of presepsin and the CLIF-SOFA score is a promising method for diagnosing sepsis in ACLF patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT02457637.

Potential predictors for prognosis and postpartum recovery time of acute fatty liver of pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is a potentially lethal condition of pregnant women with a high mortality rate. Potential predictors related to postpartum recovery time and prognostic factors of AFLP are still unclear. This study aimed to evaluate potential predictors for prognosis and postpartum recovery time of AFLP. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 76 AFLP patients in our hospital from 2002 to 2017 and investigated potential predictors using univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) was found to be associated with prognosis in AFLP patients (P = 0.005, OR = 26.844). The postpartum recovery time analysis showed that AFLP patients with a age < 25 had the shortest recovery time, but no significant difference (P = 0.134, OR = 5.952). The postpartum recovery time of patients with liver failure (LF) was significantly prolonged compared to those without LF (P = 0.036, OR = 10.052). Cryoprecipitate, and plasma infusion showed no significant effect on prognosis or recovery time. Artificial liver support therapy (ALST) had no effect on prognosis, but it might affect postpartum recovery time with no statistical significance (P = 0.128, OR = 5.470). CONCLUSION: HE is a potential predictor for prognosis of AFLP. LF is a potential predictor for postpartum recovery time.

LncRNA TP73-AS1/miR-539/MMP-8 axis modulates M2 macrophage polarization in hepatocellular carcinoma via TGF-ß1 signaling.

PURPOSE: Our study aimed to study the role of lncRNA TP73-AS1/miR-539/MMP-8 axis in modulating M2 macrophage polarization in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: The gene expression levels of TP73-AS1, miR-539 and MMP-8 were modified by transfection with the overexpression or knockdown vectors. The patient survival rate was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method. The levels of TP73-AS1, miR-539, MMP-8 and M1/2 macrophage polarization markers were analyzed by qRT-PCR, western blot, and flow cytometry. The release of TGF-ß1 in the supernatant was determined by ELISA assay. The interaction between TP73-AS1, miR-539 and MMP-8 was analyzed by bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assays. Mouse xenograft model was further established to examine the therapeutic effects of the TP73-AS1 knockdown and miR-539 overexpression in vivo. RESULTS: We found TP73-AS1 and MMP-8 upregulation, and miR-539 downregulation in HCC tissues and cell lines. Lower TP73-AS1 and MMP-8 expressions and higher miR-539 expression were associated with higher survival rate of patients. M2-macrophage markers CD206, Arg-1 and CD163 were significantly upregulated in the tumor tissues. TP73-AS1 negatively and directly regulated miR-539 and knockdown of TP73-AS1 inhibited MMP-8 expression and M2 macrophage polarization. Also, overexpression of miR-539 suppressed M2 macrophage polarization by negatively regulating MMP-8. Furthermore, knockdown of MMP-8 also restrained M2 macrophage polarization via inhibiting TGF-ß1 signaling. We also found knockdown of TP73-AS1 or overexpression of miR-539 inhibited HCC tumor growth and M2 macrophage infiltration in vivo. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated lncRNA TP73-AS1 negatively regulated miR-539 to promote MMP-8 expression, which activated TGF-ß1 signaling to induce M2 macrophage polarization in HCC.

Prevalence and Clinical Significance of Portal Vein Thrombosis in Patients With Cirrhosis and Acute Decompensation.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a common and serious complication in patients with cirrhosis. However, little is known about PVT in patients with cirrhosis and acute decompensation (AD). We investigated the prevalence and clinical significance of PVT in nonmalignant patients with cirrhosis and AD. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 2 cohorts of patients with acute exacerbation of chronic liver disease who participated in the Chinese AcuTe on CHronic LIver FailurE study, established by the Chinese Chronic Liver Failure Consortium, from January 2015 through December 2016 (n = 2600 patients) and July 2018 through January 2019 (n = 1370 patients). We analyzed data on the prevalence, clinical manifestations, and risk factors of PVT from 2826 patients with cirrhosis, with and without AD. RESULTS: The prevalence of PVT in patients with cirrhosis and AD was 9.36%, which was significantly higher than in patients with cirrhosis without AD (5.24%) (P = .04). Among patients with cirrhosis and AD, 63.37% developed PVT recently (the first detected PVT with no indication of chronic PVT). Compared with patients without PVT, a significantly higher proportion of patients with PVT had variceal bleeding (47.33% vs 19.63%; P < .001) and patients with PVT had a significantly higher median serum level of D-dimer (2.07 vs 1.25; P < .001). Splenectomy and endoscopic sclerotherapy were independent risk factors for PVT in patients with cirrhosis and AD. The 1-year mortality rate did not differ significantly between patients with vs without PVT. CONCLUSIONS: In an analysis of data from 2826 patients with cirrhosis, a significantly higher proportion of those with AD had PVT than those without AD. PVT was associated with increased variceal bleeding, which would increase the risk for AD. Strategies are needed to prevent PVT in patients with cirrhosis, through regular screening, to reduce portal hypertension. ClinicalTrials.gov no: NCT02457637 and NCT03641872.

HBx regulates transcription factor PAX8 stabilization to promote the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Transcription factor PAX8 expression is upregulated in several types of cancers. However, little is known about the function of PAX8 in the progression of hepatoma and its regulatory mechanisms. Here, we show that PAX8 silencing inhibits the proliferation and clonogenicity of hepatoma cells and its growth in vivo. The HBV X protein (HBx) does not directly interacts, but stabilizes PAX8 by inhibiting proteasome-dependent ubiquitination and degradation. Furthermore, the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex component Skp2 through its LRR domain directly interacts with the Prd domain of PAX8 and targets PAX8 by recognizing its lysine 275 for ubiquitination and degradation in hepatoma cells. In addition, HBx directly interacts and is colocalized with Skp2 to inhibit its recognition and subsequent ubiquitination and degradation of PAX8 in hepatoma cells. Moreover, HBx upregulates the expression and phosphorylation of Aurora A, a serine-threonine kinase, which interacts with and phosphorylates PAX8 at S209 and T277, compromising the Skp2-recognized PAX8 ubiquitination and destabilization. Thus, HBx stabilizes PAX8 protein by inhibiting the Skp2 targeted PAX8 ubiquitination and enhancing the Aurora A-mediated its phosphorylation, contributing to the progression of hepatoma. Our findings suggest that PAX8 may a new target for design of therapies and uncover new insights into the pathogenesis of hepatoma.

Protective effects of specific cannabinoid receptor 2 agonist GW405833 on concanavalin A-induced acute liver injury in mice.

Cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2R) is highly expressed in immune cells and plays an important role in regulating immune responses. In the current study, we investigated the effects of GW405833 (GW), a specific CB2R agonist, on acute liver injury induced by concanavalin A (Con A). In animal experiments, acute liver injury was induced in mice by injection of Con A (20 mg/kg, i.v.). The mice were treated with GW (20 mg/kg, i.p., 30 min after Con A injection) or GW plus the selective CB2R antagonist AM630 (2 mg/kg, i.p., 15 min after Con A injection). We found that Con A caused severe acute liver injury evidenced by significantly increased serum aminotransferase levels, massive hepatocyte apoptosis, and necrosis, as well as lymphocyte infiltration in liver tissues. Treatment with GW significantly ameliorated Con A-induced pathological injury in liver tissue, decreased serum aminotransferase levels, and decreased hepatocyte apoptosis. The therapeutic effects of GW were prevented by AM630. In cell experiments, we showed that CB2Rs were highly expressed in Jurkat T cells, but little expression in L02 liver cells. Treatment with GW (10-40 µg/mL) dose-dependently decreased the viability of Jurkat T cells and induced cell apoptosis, which was reversed by AM630. In the coculture of Jurkat T cells with L02 liver cells, GW dose-dependently protected L02 cells from apoptosis induced by Con A (5 µg/mL). The protective effect of GW was reversed by AM630 (1 µg/mL). Our results suggest that GW protects against Con A-induced acute liver injury in mice by inhibiting Jurkat T-cell proliferation through the CB2Rs.

Heterogeneity of cannabinoid ligand-induced modulations in intracellular Ca2+ signals of mouse pancreatic acinar cells in vitro.

We recently reported that a CB2R agonist, GW405833 (GW), reduced both the ACh-induced Ca2+ oscillations and the L-arginine-induced Ca2+ signal enhancement in mouse pancreatic acinar cells, suggesting that GW-induced inhibition may prevent the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis. In this study, we aim to evaluate the effects of other cannabinoid ligands on Ca2+ signaling in acinar cells. Patch-clamp whole-cell recordings were applied to measure ACh-induced intracellular Ca2+ oscillations in pancreatic acinar cells acutely dissociated from wild-type (WT), CB1R knockout (KO), and CB2R KO mice, and the pharmacological effects of various cannabinoid ligands on the Ca2+ oscillations were examined. We found that all the 8 CB2R agonists tested inhibited ACh-induced Ca2+ oscillations. Among them, GW, JWH133, and GP1a caused potent inhibition with IC50 values of 5.0, 6.7, and 1.2 µmol/L, respectively. In CB2R KO mice or in the presence of a CB2R antagonist (AM630), the inhibitory effects of these 3 CB2R agonists were abolished, suggesting that they acted through the CB2Rs. The CB1R agonist ACEA also induced inhibition of Ca2+ oscillations that existed in CB1R KO mice and in the presence of a CB1R antagonist (AM251), suggesting a non-CB1R effect. In WT, CB1R KO, and CB2R KO mice, a nonselective CBR agonist, WIN55,212-2, inhibited Ca2+ oscillations, which was not mediated by CB1Rs or CB2Rs. The endogenous cannabinoid substance, 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), did not show an inhibitory effect on Ca2+ oscillations. In conclusion, CB2R agonists play critical roles in modulating Ca2+ signals in mouse pancreatic acinar cells, while other cannabinoid ligands modulate Ca2+ oscillations in a heterogeneous manner through a CB receptor or non-CB-receptor mechanism.

Comparison of the Efficacy of Tenofovir Versus Tenofovir plus Entecavir in the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B in Patients With Poor Efficacy of Entecavir: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the efficacy between tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and TDF plus entecavir (ETV) combination therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) with a poor response to ETV. METHODS: We searched the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), PubMed, EMBASE, and SCOPE libraries for articles using the keywords chronic hepatitis B virus or CHB or HBV, entecavir or ETV, and tenofovir or TDF. FINDINGS: Five studies (from CNKI and PubMed) with a total of 408 patients met the inclusion criteria: 212 patients in the TDF group and 196 patients in the TDF plus ETV group. The rates of viral suppression between the 2 groups were comparable at weeks 24 and 48 of treatment (P = 0.546 vs P = 0.818). In addition, the subanalysis revealed that no significant differences were observed in the rates of viral suppression between the 2 groups at week 24 (subgroup 1 [partial response to ETV]: P = 0.822; subgroup 2 [resistance to ETV]: P = 0.294) and week 48 (subgroup 1: P = 0.797; subgroup 2: P = 0.545). No significant differences were found in alanine aminotransferase normalization, hepatitis B e antigen loss, hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion, virologic breakthrough, and tolerability between the 2 groups at weeks 24 and 48. Therefore, the results suggest that TDF monotherapy should be chosen for patients with CHB with a poor response to ETV for reasons of economy and convenience. IMPLICATIONS: We conclude that TDF monotherapy is comparable to TDF-ETV combination therapy for patients with a poor response to ETV; thus, TDF monotherapy may be a better choice for these patients. However, because of the limited citations in this meta-analysis, complete and systematic evidence is needed to evaluate the differences in efficacy and tolerability between TDF and TDF-ETV. Larger and longer randomized clinical trials and further studies should be conducted to verify the results.

Helicobacter pylori infection may increase the risk of progression of chronic hepatitis B disease among the Chinese population: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that infects over 50% of the human population worldwide. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that H. pylori may cause liver diseases, and the underlying relationship between H. pylori infection and chronic hepatitis B has attracted much attention. This study aimed to examine the association between H. pylori infection and the progression of chronic hepatitis B in the Chinese population. METHODS: A search was performed of the PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases, as well as the Chinese databases, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang Data, for studies published between January 1, 1994 and November 1, 2015. RESULTS: In total, 2977 patients were included in the chronic hepatitis B group, while 1668 participants were included in the healthy control group. The prevalence of H. pylori among patients with chronic hepatitis B was significantly higher than that among those without chronic hepatitis B. The pooled odds ratio was 3.17. In the subgroup analysis, the odds ratio was 4.28 for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related cirrhosis and 6.02 for hepatocellular carcinoma. CONCLUSION: These results indicate a strong relationship between H. pylori and chronic hepatitis B, particularly during HBV progression.

The Association between Helicobacter pylori Infection and Chronic Hepatitis C: A Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis.

Purpose. Helicobacter pylori is a common gastric disease-inducing pathogen. Although an increasing number of recent studies have shown that H. pylori is a risk factor for liver disease, the potential association between H. pylori infection and chronic hepatitis C still remains controversial. The aim of our meta-analysis was to evaluate a potential association between H. pylori infection and chronic hepatitis C. Methods. We searched the PubMed, Embase, CNKI, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases between January 1, 1994, and May 1, 2015. Results. This study included a total of 1449 patients with chronic hepatitis C and 2377 control cases. The prevalence of H. pylori was significantly higher in patients with chronic hepatitis C than in those without chronic hepatitis C. The pooled odds ratio was 2.93. In a subgroup analysis, the odds ratios were 4.48 for hepatitis C virus- (HCV-) related cirrhosis and 5.45 for hepatocellular carcinoma. Conclusion. Our study found a strong association between H. pylori and chronic hepatitis C, particularly during the HCV progression stage; thus, we recommend active screening for H. pylori in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Congo red modulates ACh-induced Ca(2+) oscillations in single pancreatic acinar cells of mice.

AIM: Congo red, a secondary diazo dye, is usually used as an indicator for the presence of amyloid fibrils. Recent studies show that congo red exerts neuroprotective effects in a variety of models of neurodegenerative diseases. However, its pharmacological profile remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of congo red on ACh-induced Ca(2+) oscillations in mouse pancreatic acinar cells in vitro. METHODS: Acutely dissociated pancreatic acinar cells of mice were prepared. A U-tube drug application system was used to deliver drugs into the bath. Intracellular Ca(2+) oscillations were monitored by whole-cell recording of Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-) currents and by using confocal Ca(2+) imaging. For intracellular drug application, the drug was added in pipette solution and diffused into cell after the whole-cell configuration was established. RESULTS: Bath application of ACh (10 nmol/L) induced typical Ca(2+) oscillations in dissociated pancreatic acinar cells. Addition of congo red (1, 10, 100 µmol/L) dose-dependently enhanced Ach-induced Ca(2+) oscillations, but congo red alone did not induce any detectable response. Furthermore, this enhancement depended on the concentrations of ACh: congo red markedly enhanced the Ca(2+) oscillations induced by ACh (10-30 nmol/L), but did not alter the Ca(2+) oscillations induced by ACh (100-10000 nmol/L). Congo red also enhanced the Ca(2+) oscillations induced by bath application of IP3 (30 µmol/L). Intracellular application of congo red failed to alter ACh-induced Ca(2+) oscillations. CONCLUSION: Congo red significantly modulates intracellular Ca(2+) signaling in pancreatic acinar cells, and this pharmacological effect should be fully considered when developing congo red as a novel therapeutic drug.