No abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes chronic infection in about 350 million people worldwide. Given the important role of the most abundant liver-specific microRNA, miR-122, in hepatic function and liver pathology, here we investigated the potential role and mechanism of miR-122 in regulating HBV replication. We found that miR-122 expression in liver was significantly down-regulated in patients with HBV infection compared with healthy controls, and the miR-122 levels were negatively correlated with intrahepatic viral load and hepatic necroinflammation. The depletion of endogenous miR-122 by its antisense inhibitor led to enhanced HBV replication, whereas overexpression of miR-122 by transfection of mimic or its expression vector inhibited viral production. We next identified cyclin G 1 as an miR-122 target from multiple candidate target genes that are involved in the regulation of HBV replication. Overexpression and knockdown studies both showed that cyclin G 1 regulated viral replication in HBV transfected cells. We also observed that cyclin G 1 expression was up-regulated in HBV-infected patients, and cyclin G 1 levels were inversely associated with miR-122 expression in liver tissues. Using coimmunoprecipitation, a luciferase reporter system, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay, we further demonstrated that cyclin G 1 specifically interacted with p53, and this interaction blocked the specific binding of p53 to HBV enhancer elements and simultaneously abrogated p53-mediated inhibition of HBV transcription. Finally, we show that miR-122 suppressed HBV replication in p53 wildtype cells but not in null isogenic cells. Conclusion: miR-122 down-regulates its target cyclin G 1 , and thus interrupts the interaction between cyclin G 1 and p53 and abrogates p53-mediated inhibition of HBV replication. Our work shows that miR-122 down-regulation induced by HBV infection can impact HBV replication and possibly contribute to viral persistence and carcinogenesis. (HEPATOLOGY 2012;55:730-741)

Hemp seed is known for its content of fatty acids, proteins, and fiber, which contribute to its nutritional value. Here we studied the secondary metabolites of hemp seed aiming at identifying bioactive compounds that could contribute to its health benefits. This investigation led to the isolation of 4 new lignanamides, cannabisin M (2), cannabisin N (5), cannabisin O (8), and 3,3'-demethyl-heliotropamide (10), together with 10 known lignanamides, among which 4 was identified for the first time from hemp seed. Structures were established on the basis of NMR, HR-MS, UV, and IR as well as by comparison with the literature data. Lignanamides 2, 7, and 9-14 showed good antioxidant activity, among which 7, 10, and 13 also inhibited acetylcholinesterase in vitro. The newly identified compounds in this study add to the diversity of hemp seed composition, and the bioassays implied that hemp seed, with lignanamides as nutrients, may be a good source of bioactive and protective compounds.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been implicated as a potential trigger of hepatic steatosis although molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of HBV-associated hepatic steatosis still remain elusive. Our prior work has revealed that the expression level of liver fatty acid binding protein 1 (FABP1), a key regulator of hepatic lipid metabolism, was elevated in HBV-producing hepatoma cells. In this study, the effects of HBV X protein (HBx) mediated FABP1 regulation on hepatic steatosis and the underlying mechanism were determined. mRNA and protein levels of FABP1 were measured by quantitative RT-PCR (qPCR) and Western blotting. HBx-mediated FABP1 regulation was evaluated by luciferase assay, coimmunoprecipitation, and chromatin immunoprecipitation. Hepatic lipid accumulation was measured by using Oil-Red-O staining and the triglyceride level. It was found that expression of FABP1 was increased in HBV-producing hepatoma cells, the sera of HBV-infected patients, and the sera and liver tissues of HBV-transgenic mice. IMPORTANCEAccumulating evidence from epidemiological and experimental studies has indicated that chronic HBV infection is associated with hepatic steatosis. However, the molecular mechanism underlying HBV-induced pathogenesis of hepatic steatosis still remains to be elucidated. In this study, we found that expression of liver fatty acid binding protein (FABP1) was dramatically increased in the sera of HBV-infected patients and in both sera and liver tissues of HBV-transgenic mice. Forced expression of HBx led to FABP1 upregulation, whereas knockdown of FABP1 remarkably diminished lipid accumulation in both in vitro and in vivo models. It is possible that HBx promotes hepatic lipid accumulation through upregulating FABP1 in the development of HBV-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Therefore, inhibition of FABP1 might have therapeutic value in steatosis-associated chronic HBV infection. H epatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious health problemworldwide, causing acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (1). Emerging evidence from epidemiological and experimental studies suggests that chronic HBV infection, as well as HCV infection, is associated with hepatic steatosis (2, 3). The frequency of hepatic steatosis in subjects with a chronic HBV infection ranges from 27 to 51% (4). Furthermore, HBV X protein (HBx) is known to cause hepatic lipid deposition by inhibiting the secretion of apolipoprotein B (5). A previous report showed that the increased HBx expression can cause lipid accumulation in hepatocytes, likely mediated by sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ␥ (PPAR␥) (4). The molecular mechanism by which HBV induces the pathogenesis of hepatic steatosis remains elusive. Using fluorescent two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry analysis, we found that the protein level of liver fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP ...

More than 350 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus, and dysfunctional T cell responses contribute to persistent viral infection and immunopathogenesis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, the underlying mechanisms of T cell hyporesponsiveness remain largely undefined. Given the important role of microRNA-146a (miR-146a) in diverse aspects of lymphocyte function, we investigated the potential role and mechanism of miR-146a in regulating T cell immune responses in CHB. We found that miR-146a expression in T cells is significantly upregulated in CHB compared with healthy controls, and miR-146a levels were correlated with serum alanine aminotransaminase levels. Both inflammatory cytokines and viral factors led to miR-146a upregulation in T cells. Stat1 was identified as a miR-146a target that is involved in antiviral cytokine production and the cytotoxicity of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. In vitro blockage of miR-146a in T cells in CHB greatly enhanced virus-specific T cell activity. Therefore, our work demonstrates that miR-146a upregulation in CHB causes impaired T cell function, which may contribute to immune defects and immunopathogenesis during chronic viral infection.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to determine the association between preoperational factors and patients’ short-term outcome after proximal fibular osteotomy (PFO) and to provide a basis for detailed surgical indication and patient selection.MethodsThis was a retrospective study of patients undergoing PFO between January 2015 and December 2015. Preoperational clinical data including gender, age, duration of disease, visual analogue score (VAS) and American Knee Society (KSS) score were collected. The radiological factors including hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA angle), condyle-plateau angle (CP angle), Kellgren and Lawrence grade (KL grade), joint space width of both compartments and settlement value were also considered. Patients were followed for at 12 months postoperatively. Both clinical and functional KSS scores were obtained. The outcome of interest was divided into clinical outcome and functional outcome. For each, two criteria were defined: satisfaction and significant improvement. Satisfaction is characterized by a KSS clinical or functional score over 70 points (excellent and good results); significant improvement refers to an increase in KSS scores of more than 15 points. Bivariate logistic regression for the association between preoperational factors and outcomes of interest was performed. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to detect the independent factors affecting the outcomes.ResultsA total of 84 patients and 111 knees were followed-up. Of these, 17 knees were from males and 94 were from females. The average age was 59.45±8.82 years. The average preoperational VAS score, KSS clinical and functional score were 7.08±1.41 points, 49.14±10.95 points and 44.97±17.71 points, respectively. According to KL grading, there were 17 knees of grade 2, 47 knees of grade 3, and 47 knees of grade 4. In clinical outcomes, there were 51 knees in the satisfaction group and 77 knees in the significant improvement group. In functional outcomes, 43 knees were in the satisfaction group and 76 knees in the significant improvement group. KSS clinical score (OR = 1.134, 95%CI = 1.067–1.205, P = 0.000) was the independent factor associated with clinical satisfaction. Age (OR = 1.072, 95%CI = 1.000–1.150, P = 0.048), VAS score (OR = 1.679, 95%CI = 1.041–2.706, P = 0.033), KSS clinical (OR = 1.072, 95%CI = 1.005–1.144, P = 0.034) and functional (OR = 1.100, 95%CI = 1.044–1.159, P = 0.000) score, HKA angle (OR = 1.345, 95%CI = 1.119–1.617, P = 0.002) and settlement value (OR = 7.540, 95%CI = 1.307–43.484, P = 0.024) were the independent factors associated with functional satisfaction. KSS clinical (OR = 0.905, 95%CI = 0.850–0.963, P = 0.002) score, CP angle (OR = 0.760, 95%CI = 0.593–0.973, P = 0.030) and medial joint space width (OR = 0.001, 95%CI = 0.000–0.107, P = 0.003) were the independent factors associated with significant clinical improvement; VAS score (OR = 1.582, 95%CI = 1.042–2.402, P = 0.031), KSS functional (OR = 0.888, 95%CI = 0.838–0.942, P = 0.000) score, HKA angle (OR = 1.292, 95%CI = 1.10...

Hepatitis B virus core protein (HBc) has been implicated in hepatocarcinogenesis through several mechanisms. Resistance of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected hepatocytes to apoptosis is considered one of the major contributors to the progression of chronic hepatitis to cirrhosis and ultimately to hepatocellular carcinoma. The Fas receptor/ligand (Fas/FasL) system plays a prominent role in hepatocyte death during HBV infection. Here we report that HBc mediates resistance of hepatoma cells to agonistic anti-Fas antibody (CH11)-induced apoptosis. When HBc was introduced into human hepatoma cells, the cells became resistant to CH11 cytotoxicity in a p53-dependent manner. HBc significantly down-regulated the expression of p53, total Fas, and membrane-bound Fas at the mRNA and protein levels and reduced FasL mRNA expression. In contrast, HBc up-regulated the expression of soluble forms of Fas by increasing Fas alternative mRNA splicing. Mechanistically, HBc-mediated Fas alternative mRNA splicing was associated with up-regulation of polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1 and down-regulation of Fas-activated serine/threonine kinase. These results indicated that HBc may prevent hepatocytes from Fas-induced apoptosis by the dual effects of reducing the expression of the proapoptotic form of Fas and enhancing the expression of the antiapoptotic form of the receptor, which may contribute to the survival and persistence of infected hepatocytes during chronic infection.

Grossamide, a representative lignanamide in hemp seed, has been reported to possess potential anti-inflammatory effects. However, the potential anti-neuroinflammatory effects and underlying mechanisms of action of grossamide are still unclear. Therefore, the present study investigated the possible effects and underlying mechanisms of grossamide against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response in BV2 microglia cells. BV2 microglia cells were pre-treated with various concentrations of grossamide before being stimulated with LPS to induce inflammation. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were determined using the enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) and mRNA expression levels were measured by real-time PCR. The translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and contribution of TLR4-mediated NF-κB activation on inflammatory effects were evaluated by immunostaining and Western blot analysis. This study demonstrated that grossamide significantly inhibited the secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators such as interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and decreased the level of LPS-mediated IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA. In addition, it significantly reduced the phosphorylation levels of NF-κB subunit p65 in a concentration-dependent manner and suppressed translocation of NF-κB p65 into the nucleus. Furthermore, grossamide markedly attenuated the LPS-induced expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88). Taken together, these data suggest that grossamide could be a potential therapeutic candidate for inhibiting neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases.