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Biomedical subjects

Ying Liu

Publications and source records attributed to Ying Liu.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Essential role for Rac in heregulin beta1 mitogenic signaling: a mechanism that involves epidermal growth factor receptor and is independent of ErbB4.

Heregulins are a family of ligands for the ErbB3/ErbB4 receptors that play important roles in breast cancer cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. Limited information is available on the contribution of Rho GTPases to heregulin-mediated signaling. In breast cancer cells, heregulin beta1 (HRG) causes a strong activation of Rac; however, it does so with striking differences in kinetics compared to epidermal growth factor, which signals through ErbB1 (epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR]). Using specific ErbB receptor inhibitors and depletion of receptors by RNA interference (RNAi), we established that, surprisingly, activation of Rac by HRG is mediated not only by ErbB3 and ErbB2 but also by transactivation of EGFR, and it is independent of ErbB4. Similar receptor requirements are observed for HRG-induced actin cytoskeleton reorganization and mitogenic activity via extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). HRG-induced Rac activation was phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase dependent and Src independent. Furthermore, inactivation of Rac by expression of the Rac GTPase-activating protein beta2-chimerin inhibited HRG-induced ERK activation, mitogenicity, and migration in breast cancer cells. HRG mitogenic activity was also impaired by depletion of Rac1 using RNAi. Our studies established that Rac is a critical mediator of HRG mitogenic signaling in breast cancer cells and highlight additional levels of complexity for ErbB receptor coupling to downstream effectors that control aberrant proliferation and transformation.

Antibodies, Blocking↗

Serum proteomic pattern analysis for early cancer detection.

The ability of physicians to effectively treat and cure cancer is directly dependent on their ability to detect cancers at their early stages. The early detection of cancer has the potential to dramatically reduce mortality. Recently, the use of mass spectrometry to develop profiles of patient serum proteins has been reported as a promising method to achieve this goal. In this paper, we analyzed the ovarian cancer and prostate cancer data sets using support vector machine (SVM) to detect cancer at the early stages based on serum proteomic pattern. The results showed that SVM, in general, performed well on these two data sets, as measured by sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy. Linear kernel worked the best on ovarian cancer data with a sensitivity of 0.99 and an accuracy of 0.97, while polynomial kernel worked the best on prostate cancer data with a sensitivity of 0.79 and an accuracy of 0.82. When redial kernel was applied to either of the two data sets, all the samples were predicted as cancer samples, with a sensitivity of 1 and a specificity of 0. Furthermore, feature selection did not improve SVM performance.

Artificial Intelligence↗

Inhibitors of inducible nitric oxide synthase prevent damage to human lens epithelial cells induced by interferon-gamma and lipopolysaccharide.

We previously found that Ca2+ concentrations, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA, and protein expression in lenses of the Shumiya cataract rat (SCR) increase with the development of cataracts. In this study, we investigated the change in Ca2+-ATPase activities and ATP levels in the human lens epithelial cell line SRA 01/04 (HLE cells) with the stimulation of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Expression levels of iNOS mRNA in HLE cells, which were determined using semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantitative real-time RT-PCR methods, increased during stimulation with IFN-gamma (1000 IU) and LPS (100 ng/ml). NO release from HLE cells, expressed as the sum of NO2- and NO3- levels, increased with the increase in iNOS expression levels. Ca2+-ATPase activities increased and ATP levels decreased in HLE cells stimulated with the combination of IFN-gamma and LPS. Furthermore, both diethyldithiocarbamate and aminoguanidine attenuated the increase in Ca2+-ATPase activities and the decrease in ATP levels. These results suggest that excessive production of NO may cause mitochondrial damage, resulting in an increased Ca2+ concentration in the lens. The increase in Ca2+ concentration in the lens may increase Ca2+-ATPase activities.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Observation of perceived exertion in children using the OMNI pictorial scale.

PURPOSE: Concurrent and construct validity of a kinematic exertional observation procedure was examined for 10- to 14-yr-old female (N = 22) and male (N = 22) healthy children. METHODS: A load-incremented treadmill test protocol employing speed/grade changes every 3 min was used. RPE for the overall body (RPE-Overall), legs (RPE-Legs), and chest (RPE-Chest) were simultaneously estimated by an independent observer and self-rated by a subject during each treadmill stage using the Children's OMNI-Walk/Run Scale. Subjects' HR and oxygen consumption (VO2) were measured during each stage. Concurrent validity was established by correlating the observer's RPE with the subject's HR and VO2. Construct validity was examined by correlating submaximal RPE estimated by the observer with RPE estimated by the subject. RESULTS: The range of responses for the females and males was VO2 = 18.4-43.5 mL x kg(-1) x min(-1), HR = 121-185 bpm, and OMNI Scale RPE- (Overall, -Legs, -Chest) ranging from 1 to 9. Observer RPE (Overall, -Legs, -Chest) for the female and male subjects ranged from 1 to 9. For both female and male groups regression analyses indicated that observer's RPE distributed as a positive function of subject's HR and VO2; r = 0.80-0.91 (P < 0.01). Observer's RPE distributed as a positive function of subject's RPE for both females and males; r = 0.87-0.92 (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Results support the validity of a direct kinematic observation procedure to estimate OMNI Scale RPE for female and male children performing treadmill exercise. Exertional observation provides an unobtrusive perceptual estimate of exercise intensity and could be included in standardized physical activity assessments for children.

Adolescent↗

Fate of centrosomes following somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in bovine oocytes.

Cloning mammalians by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) remains inefficient. A majority of clones produced by SCNT fail to develop properly and of those which do survive, some exhibit early aging, premature death, tumors, and other pathologies associated with aneuploidy. Alterations of centrosomes are linked to aberrant cell cycle progression, aneuploidy, and tumorigenesis in many cell types. It remains to be determined how centrosomes are remodeled in cloned bovine embryos. We show that abnormalities in either distribution and/or number of centrosomes were evident in approximately 50% of reconstructed embryos following SCNT. Moreover, centrosome abnormalities and failed 'pronuclear' migration which manifested during the first cell cycle coincided with errors in spindle morphogenesis, chromosome alignment, and cytokinesis. By contrast, nuclear mitotic apparatus protein (NuMA) exhibited normal expression patterns at metaphase spindle poles and in 'pronucleus' during interphase. The defects in centrosome remodeling and 'pronuclear' migration could lead to chromosome instability and developmental failures associated with embryo production by SCNT. Addressing these fundamental problems may enhance production of normal clones.

Animals↗

Vasopressin increases GAGA binding activity to the V1b receptor promoter through transactivation of the MAP kinase pathway.

Previous studies show that binding of nuclear proteins to GAGA repeats (GAGA box) in the vasopressin type 1b receptor (V1bR) promoter is essential for transcriptional initiation of the gene. To determine whether increased vasopressin (VP) during stress activates V1bR expression through the GAGA box, we examined the effects of VP on GAGA binding activity and on the ability of the V1bR promoter to recruit RNA polymerase in the hypothalamic cell line, H32. In chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, VP induced RNA polymerase II recruitment by the wild type V1bR promoter but not by a construct with the major GAGA box deletion. VP (10 min) also increased binding of nuclear proteins to radiolabeled GAGA oligonucleotides in electromobility shift assays. VP-induced GAGA binding activity was potentiated by the protein kinase C inhibitor, calphostin C, and was prevented by the MEK inhibitor, UO126, and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor, AG1478, suggesting that VP activates GAGA binding through transactivation of the EGFR. This was confirmed by western blot experiments showing rapid increases in phospho ERK after incubation with VP, an effect that was potentiated by calphostin C and inhibited by UO12 and AG1478, as well as by the ability of VP to phosphorylate the EGFR. Using receptor selective VP analogs we showed that both V1aR and V1bR subtypes can mediate GAGA binding activation in H32 cells. This study demonstrates that VP stimulates GAGA binding to the V1bR promoter through transactivation of the EGFR and MAP kinase. The data support the hypothesis that VP contributes to pituitary V1bR upregulation during stress through GAGA binding-mediated transcriptional activation.

Animals↗

Quaternary structure, substrate selectivity and inhibitor design for SARS 3C-like proteinase.

The SARS coronavirus 3C-like proteinase is recognized as a potential drug design target for the treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome. In the past few years, much work has been done to understand the catalytic mechanism of this target protein and to design its selective inhibitors. The protein exists as a dimer/monomer mixture in solution and the dimer was confirmed to be the active species for the enzyme reaction. Quantitative dissociation constants have been reported for the dimer by using analytic ultracentrifuge, gel filtration and enzyme assays. Though the enzyme is a cysteine protease with a chymotrypsin fold, SARS 3C-like proteinase follows the general base catalytic mechanism similar to chymotrypsin. As the enzyme can cut eleven different sites on the viral polyprotein, the substrate specificity has been studied by synthesized peptides corresponding or similar to the cleavage sites on the polyprotein. Predictive model was built for substrate structure and activity relationships and can be applied in inhibitor design. Due to the lack of potential drugs for the treatment of SARS, the discovery of inhibitors against SARS 3C-like proteinase, which can potentially be optimized as drugs appears to be highly desirable. Various groups have been working on inhibitor discovery by virtual screening, compound library screening, modification of existing compounds or natural products. High-throughput in vitro assays, auto-cleavage assays and viral replication assays have been developed for inhibition activity tests. Inhibitors with IC50 values as low as 60 nM have been reported.

Animals↗

[Correlation of Skp2 expression in gastric carcinoma to expression of P27 and PTEN].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2) is a positive regulator of G1-S transition and promotes ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor P27. Its overexpression has been involved in cell transformation and tumorigenesis. This study was to investigate the significance of Skp2 expression in human gastric carcinoma and its correlation to expression of both P27 and PTEN. METHODS: The expression of Skp2 in 138 specimens of gastric cancer and their paired adjacent mucosa, 102 specimens of paired metastatic lymph nodes, 30 specimens of dysplasia, 30 specimens of intestinal metaplasia, 10 specimens of chronic superficial gastritis, and 5 specimens of normal gastric mucosa, and the expression of P27 and PTEN in 138 specimens of gastric cancer were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Skp2 labeling frequency was significantly higher in intestinal metaplasia [(12.68+/-0.86)%] and adjacent mucosa [(19.32+/-1.22)%] than in chronic superficial gastritis [(0.53+/-0.13)%] and normal gastric mucosa [(0.47+/-0.19)%] (P<0.001), but there was no difference between chronic superficial gastritis and normal gastric mucosa (P>0.05); Skp2 labeling frequency was significantly higher in dysplasia [(16.74+/-0.82)%] than in intestinal metaplasia (P<0.001), significantly higher in primary gastric carcinoma [(31.34+/-2.17)%] than in dysplasia and adjacent mucosa (P<0.001), and significantly higher in metastatic lymph node [(39.76+/-2.00)%] than in primary gastric carcinoma (P=0.037). Skp2 labeling frequency in gastric carcinoma was positively correlated with differentiation grade (rs=0.315, P<0.001), vessel invasion (rs=0.303, P<0.001), and lymph node metastasis (rs=0.254, P=0.001). Skp2 expression was negatively correlated with both P27 expression (rs=-0.451, P<0.001) and PTEN expression (rs=-0.480, P<0.001) in gastric carcinoma. P27 expression was positively correlated with PTEN expression in gastric carcinoma (rs=0.642, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Skp2 overexpression, which may lead to degradation of P27 and low expression of PTEN, may be a very important reason in carcinogenesis and progression of gastric carcinoma.

Adult↗

[Expressions of TGIF, MMP9 and VEGF proteins and their clinicopathological relationship in gastric cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the expressions of TG-interacting factor (TGIF), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) proteins, and to analyze their clinicopathological relationship in gastric cancer. METHODS: Vascular invasion and remote metastasis were examined in nude mice inoculated with SGC-7901 cells, vector control cells or TGIF transfected cells via serial sections, and sequentially the expressions of MMP2, MMP9 and VEGF proteins in tumor tissues from nude mice were detected by immunohistochemical staining. At the same time, TGIF, MMP9 and VEGF proteins were examined in 76 patients with gastric carcinoma, and the relationships between the expressions of the three proteins and clinicopathological features were analyzed. RESULTS: Metastasis was not observed in nude mice inoculated with any cells. There were cancerous embolisms in nude mice tumor tissue inoculated with SGC-7901 cells and vector control cells, but not in TGIF transfected cells. The expressions of MMP9 and VEGF proteins were higher in the tumor tissues originated from SGC-7901 cells and vector control cells than that from TGIF transfected cells. The expression of MMP2 had no distinct difference among the tumor tissues originated from the three cells. The positive rate of TGIF protein in gastric carcinoma was 46.1% (35/76), obviously lower than that in surgical marginal mucosa (78.1%) (P < 0.05). Low expression of TGIF protein correlated significantly with the metastasis of lymph node. The positive rates of MMP9 and VEGF proteins in gastric carcinoma were 59.2% and 56.6%, respectively, obviously higher than that in surgical marginal mucosa (31.3%) (P < 0.05). High expressions of both MMP9 and VEGF also correlated significantly with the metastasis of lymph node. The expression level of VEGF protein was also associated with the invasion of gastric carcinoma (P < 0.05). The expression of TGIF protein reversely correlated with that of MMP9 and VEGF proteins (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: TGIF may inhibit the invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma via the downregulation of MMP9 and VEGF proteins.

Adult↗

[Dynamic change of metabolism related protein in liver tissue of rats' model of hepatic fibrosis and regulatory effect of fuzheng huayu decoction on it].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Fuzheng Huayu decoction (FHD) intervention on hepatic fibrosis. METHODS: Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: rats in the normal group only treated with subcutaneous injection of saline, rats in the model group and the FHD group were made into hepatic fibrosis by subcutaneous injection of 40% carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-olive solution and then those in the FHD group were treated with FHD by gastric perfusion after modeling. Liver samples of the rats were obtained for routine pathological observation, hydroxyproline determination and proteome quantitative determination. After then, the proteome profile was obtained through 2-dimensional electrophoresis and silver staining, and analyzed. More than 30 proteins with different expression were identified by MALDI-TOF-MS. RESULTS: (1) The integral response of vital movement such as body weight and activity of hepatic fibrosis declined in the CCl4 induced liver fibrosis rats; (2) Liver fibrosis were associated with abnormal metabolism; (3) There were four material metabolism-related protein showed by hepatic proteome mass spectrography, which expressed different between the normal and the fibrotic rats, i. e. the perchloric acid soluble protein, the phosphatidylinositol transferase, the phosphoglycerate kinase and the endoplasmic reticulum-60 protease; (4) The expressions of the above-mentioned four proteins in the FHD group were nearly the same as those of normal level. CONCLUSION: (1) Liver fibrosis is accompanied with abnormal protein synthesis and decomposition, as well as the enhanced activity of glycolysis; (2) The existence of metabolism-related proteins is one of the elements for the liver in regulating metabolism; (3) The regulation on the expressions of metablism-related proteins is one of the pathways for FHD to exert its anti-hepatic fibrosis effect.

Animals↗

[Safety and efficacy of intracoronary transplantation of G-CSF mobilized autologous peripheral blood stem cells in patients with acute myocardial infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety and efficacy of intracoronary transplantation of G-CSF mobilized autologous peripheral blood stem cells in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: Patients with AMI were randomly assigned to receive intracoronary PBSCs transplantation following bone marrow cells mobilization by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (300-600 microg/day subcutaneously for 5 days) in addition to standard therapy (standard drug therapy and PCI, PBSCs transplantation group, n = 35) or standard therapy (standard drug therapy and PCI, n = 35). One day after G-CSF treatment was finished the patient's mononuclear cells were harvested by Baxter CS 3000 blood cell separator in a volume of 57 ml and then transferred into the infarct related artery by occluding the over the wire balloon and infusing artery through balloon center lumen. Complications during intervention and left ventricular function at baseline and 6 months thereafter were monitored. RESULTS: No severe side effects of G-CSF treatment could be observed. Malignant arrhythmias were not observed either. Left ventricular function was significantly improved 6 months after G-CSF mobilized autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation compared to baseline (global left ventricular function ejection fraction: 57.1 +/- 7.8 vs. 50.0 +/- 8.2%, P < 0.0001; WMSI: 1.101 +/- 0.118 vs. 1.219 +/- 0.190, P < 0.0001; left end-systolic volume: 52.6 +/- 20.3 vs. 63.8 +/- 23.9 ml, P = 0.01 and left end-diastolic volume: 119.2 +/- 30.3 vs. 134.2 +/- 36.7 ml, P = 0.07) while these parameters remained unchanged in the control group. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that G-CSF mobilized autologous intracoronary PBSCs transplantation is a safe and feasible treatment for patients with AMI and global left ventricular function is improved and left ventricular remodeling attenuated at six-month follow-up.

Aged↗

[The impact of two continuing education models on competence for hypertension diagnosis and treatment of community physicians].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the impact of two different continuing education models: traditional model and a new model entitled "problem-oriented and case-based" mutual pattern and "train the trainer" course, on improving hypertension diagnosis and treatment competence of community physicians. METHODS: A total of 632 physicians from 22 district and community hospitals in Haidian district (new model) and 20 district and community hospitals in Chaoyang district (traditional model) in Beijing were trained during July to October 2002. The survey was carried out before and 2 years after training with examination questionnaire. RESULTS: The competence evaluated as a score (maximal 100) for hypertension diagnosis and treatment of physicians was similar in physicians before training from the two districts. Post training, the score significantly increased from 40.0 to 47.4 (P < 0.01) in physicians from Chaoyang district and from 40.5 to 70.5 (P < 0.01) in physicians from Haidian district and the final score for physicians from Haidian district is significantly higher than that for physicians from increased from Chaoyang district (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The new model is more efficient for improving community physician's competence for diagnosing and treating hypertension.

Adult↗

[Screen of inflammatory genes regulated by heat shock factor 1 and corroboration with SOCS3 gene].

OBJECTIVE: To screen the inflammatory mediators genes regulated by HSF1, and explore the mechanism of downstream genes regulated by HSF1. METHODS: HSF-/- and HSF1+/+ mice were injected with 15 mg/kg LPS intraperitoneally (ip), respectively, and were treated as previous after HSR. The total RNA of lung tissues were extracted and filtrated by SuperArray gene Microarry. The promoter of candidate genes were analyzed by transcription element search software to search for heat shock element (HSE). Select the suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) with HSE. Macrophage cells were stimulated with 400 ng/mL LPS, and were treated as previous after HSR, then the total RNA was extracted respectively. RT-PCR and northern blot assay were performed to detect the expression levels of SOCS3 mRNA. RESULTS: Fifteen genes were repressed by HSF1, including 9 genes with complete HSE. Eleven genes were accelerated by HSF1 possibly, including 8 genes with complete HSE. The promoter of SOCS3 gene contained one complete HSE. LPS stimulation obviously increased the levels of SOCS3 mRNA in macrophages of RAW264.7 mice, which was inhibited by HSR and over-expression of HSF1. CONCLUSION: HSR or HSF1 inhibits LPS induced expression of SOCS3 mRNA; HSF1 might inhibit LPS-induced expression of SOCS3 mRNA by binding to HSE in the promoter of SOCS3 gene.

Animals↗

[Association of polymorphisms of human leucocyte antigen -DRB1 and -DQA1 allele with outcomes of hepatitis B virus infection in Han population of north China].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of polymorphisms of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) -DRB1 and -DQA1 region allele with outcomes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Han population of north China. METHODS: A total of 207 chronic hepatitis B (HB) patients, 212 chronic asymptomatic HBV carriers (HBV carrier), and 148 self-limited HBV infection were recruited to examine the association between gene polymorphisms and outcomes of HBV infection. Polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) technique was used to genotype HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQA1 loci. RESULTS: The frequency of HLA-DQA1 * 0301 in chronic HB patients (14.81%) was significantly lower than those in HBV carriers (25.24%) and self-limited HBV infection subjects (25.00%) (Pc = 0.002; Pc = 0.007). The frequency of HLA-DQA1 * 0102 in self-limited HBV infection subjects (8.78%) was significantly higher than those in chronic HB patients (2.18%) and HBV carriers (1.89%) (Pc = 0.000; P = 0.000). In addition, the frequency of HLA-DQA1 * 0302 in self-limited HBV infection subjects (4.05%) was significantly lower than that in chronic HB patients (11.41%) (Pc = 0.005). HLA-DQA1 * 0302 was demonstrated to be risk factors of chronic HBV (OR = 3.913, P = 0.0006), while HLA-DQA1* 0102 and HLA-DQA1 * 0301 to be protective factors against chronic HBV (OR = 0.200, P = 0.0004; OR = 0.258, P = 0.0000) after age, sex, smoking and drinking were adjusted by logistic regression analysis. There were positive interactions between drinking and HLA-DQA1 * 0102 [interaction index (II) = 1.49] or HLA-DQA1 * 0302 (II = 12.12). There were negative interactions between drinking and HLA-DQA1 * 0301 (II = 0.78) CONCLUSIONS: The subjects with HLA-DQA1 * 0302 allele have an increased risk to chronic HB infection compared with other subjects without this allele, while HLA-DQA1 * 0301 and HLA-DQA1 * 0102 are associated with HBV clearness. Gene-environment interaction can affect the outcomes of HBV infection.

Adolescent↗

[Relationship between polymorphisms of vitamin D receptor gene and familial aggregation of HBsAg carriers].

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether -Taq I T/C and -Fok I C/T polymorphisms of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene are associated with the familial aggregation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. METHODS: Based on a population-based case-control family design, 288 family members from 27 case families and 230 family members from 27 control families were recruited. VDR gene polymorphisms were analyzed. VDR-Taq I T/C and VDR-Fok I C/T polymorphisms were examined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS: The frequency of VDR-Taq I TT genotype in the case families was significantly higher than that in the control families (P < 0.05) , however, the frequency of VDR-Fok I CC genotype in the case families was significantly higher than that in the control families (P < 0.05). The frequency of family members carriying Taq I T-Fok I C haplotype in the case families was significantly higher than that in the control families (OR = 1.67, P < 0.05), however, the frequency of family members carrying Taq I C-Fok I T haplotype in the case families was significantly lower than that in the control families (OR = 0. 24, P < 0.05). The similar results were found in the familial biological kinship relatives with any HBV-infected makers. CONCLUSION: VDR-Taq I and -Fok I gene polymorphisms are likely to play a substantial role in HBsAg familial aggregation.

Case-Control Studies↗

[Advances in researches on single-nucleotide polymorphisms of candidate genes for type 2 diabetes].

Type 2 diabetes is a common multifactorial genetic syndrome, which is determined by several different genes and environmental factors. With the accomplishment of Human Genome Project and the development of the screening technology for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), many SNP researches have been carried out to determine the genetic factors involved in type 2 diabetes. This article introduces the strategies of SNP studies and reviews the SNP studies of major candidate genes for type 2 diabetes.

Adiponectin↗

[The effect of Fuzheng Huayu Decoction on the hepatic proteome during the formation and resolution of rat liver fibrosis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the dynamic changes of the hepatic proteome during the formation and resolution of rat liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride and the effect of Fuzheng Huayu Decoction on it. METHODS: Liver fibrosis in Wistar rats was induced by subcutaneous injection of 40% CCl4 in olive oil while the rats in the treatment group received Fuzheng Huayu Decoction. Pathological examination, hydroxyproline content determination and protein extraction of the rats livers were performed at four time points, i.e. at the end of 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks. After 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), the gels were analyzed using the PDQUEST 2-DE image analysis software and differentially expressed proteins were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). RESULTS: (1) The 2-DE examination showed that the model group-specific proteins and differentially expressed proteins presented started at 4 weeks and reached their peaks at 12 weeks, and this was conformed by MALD-TOF-MS identification. (2) In addition, 18 proteins were present at all time points and another 19 proteins were absent in the model group among those identified by MALD-TOF-MS. (3) Fuzheng Huayu Decoction down-regulated proteins and their expressions increased at 4 and 8 weeks, whereas it up-regulated those which decreased at 8, 12 and 16 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: (1) The changes in protein expressions, which effect metabolism, neuroendocrine function and cell proliferation, are the basis of liver fibrosis. (2) The anti-fibrotic effect of Fuzheng Huayu Decoction is holistic, specifically because it can decrease the abnormal cell proliferation and can increase the synthesis of normal proteins.

Animals↗