JCAD deficiency attenuates activation of hepatic stellate cells and cholestatic fibrosis

Li Xie,Hui Chen,Li Zhang,Yue Ma,Yuan Zhou,Yong-Yu Yang,Chang Liu,Yu-Li Wang,Ya-Jun Yan,Jia Ding,Xiao Teng,Qiang Yang,Xiu-Ping Liu,Jian Wu 대한간학회 2024 Clinical and Molecular Hepatology(대한간학회지) Vol.30 No.2

Background/Aims: Cholestatic liver diseases including primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) are associated with active hepatic fibrogenesis, which ultimately progresses to cirrhosis. Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the main fibrogenic effectors in response to cholangiocyte damage. JCAD regulates cell proliferation and malignant transformation in nonalcoholic steatoheaptitis-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (NASH-HCC). However, its participation in cholestatic fibrosis has not been explored yet. Methods: Serial sections of liver tissue of PBC patients were stained with immunofluorescence. Hepatic fibrosis was induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) in wild-type (WT), global JCAD knockout mice (JCAD-KO) and HSC-specific JCAD knockout mice (HSC-JCAD-KO), and evaluated by histopathology and biochemical tests. In situ-activated HSCs isolated from BDL mice were used to determine effects of JCAD on HSC activation. Results: In consistence with staining of liver sections from PBC patients, immunofluorescent staining revealed that JCAD expression was identified in smooth muscle α-actin (α-SMA)-positive fibroblast-like cells and was significantly up-regulated in WT mice with BDL. JCAD deficiency remarkably ameliorated BDL-induced hepatic injury and fibrosis, as documented by liver hydroxyproline content, when compared to WT mice with BDL. Histopathologically, collagen deposition was dramatically reduced in both JCAD-KO and HSC-JCAD-KO mice compared to WT mice, as visualized by Trichrome staining and semi-quantitative scores. Moreover, JCAD deprivation significantly attenuated in situ HSC activation and reduced expression of fibrotic genes after BDL. Conclusions: JCAD deficiency effectively suppressed hepatic fibrosis induced by BDL in mice, and the underlying mechanisms are largely through suppressed Hippo-YAP signaling activity in HSCs.

Effect of fatigue fracture on the resistive switching of TiO2-CuO film/ITO flexible memory device

Jian-Chang Li,Bo Chen,Yu Qian 한국물리학회 2018 Current Applied Physics Vol.18 No.9

We fabricated the GaIn/TiO2-CuO/ITO resistive memory and studied the effect of fatigue fracture on the switching performance. The device shows the stable bipolar resistive switching over 108 s under ambient condition. The ON/OFF ratio decreases seriously with increase of bending cycles. The main fatigue fracture caused by dynamic strain includes micro defect between nanoparticles, vertical crack along the film thickness and interfacial delamination between layers. Finite element analysis indicates that channel crack plays a key role to cause the interfacial delamination between function layer and ITO electrode. The channel crack and interfacial delamination can hinder the formation of tree−like conduction filaments. Moreover, oxygen via the cracks can be easily transformed to ions and reduce the density of oxygen vacancies under the catalytic assistance of CuO. Our studies may provide some useful information for inorganic materials applied in flexible nonvolatile memory

β-elemene Induces Caspase-dependent Apoptosis in Human Glioma Cells in vitro through the Upregulation of Bax and Fas/FasL and Downregulation of Bcl-2

Li, Chen-Long,Chang, Liang,Guo, Lin,Zhao, Dan,Liu, Hui-Bin,Wang, Qiu-Shi,Zhang, Ping,Du, Wen-Zhong,Liu, Xing,Zhang, Hai-Tao,Liu, Yang,Zhang, Yao,Xie, Jing-Hong,Ming, Jian-Guang,Cui, Yu-Qiong,Sun, Ying Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.23

Background: ${\beta}$-elemene, extracted from herb medicine Curcuma wenyujin has potent anti-tumor effects in various cancer cell lines. However, the activity of ${\beta}$-elemene against glioma cells remains unclear. In the present study, we assessed effects of ${\beta}$-elemene on human glioma cells and explored the underlying mechanism. Materials and Methods: Human glioma U87 cells were used. Cell proliferation was determined with MTT assay and colony formation assay to detect the effect of ${\beta}$-elemene at different doses and times. Fluorescence microscopy was used to observe cell apoptosis with Hoechst 33258 staining and change of glioma apoptosis and cell cycling were analyzed by flow cytometry. Real-time quantitative PCR and Western-blotting assay were performed to investigated the influence of ${\beta}$-elemene on expression levels of Fas/FasL, caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax. The experiment was divided into two groups: the blank control group and ${\beta}$-elemne treatment group. Results: With increase in the concentration of ${\beta}$-elemene, cytotoxic effects were enhanced in the glioma cell line and the concentration of inhibited cell viability ($IC_{50}$) was $48.5{\mu}g/mL$ for 24h. ${\beta}$-elemene could induce cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase. With Hoechst 33258 staining, apoptotic nuclear morphological changes were observed. Activation of caspase-3,-8 and -9 was increased and the pro-apoptotic factors Fas/FasL and Bax were upregulated, while the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 was downregulated after treatment with ${\beta}$-elemene at both mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, proliferation and colony formation by U87 cells were inhibited by ${\beta}$-elemene in a time and does-dependent manner. Conclusions: Our results indicate that ${\beta}$-elemene inhibits growth and induces apoptosis of human glioma cells in vitro. The induction of apoptosis appears to be related with the upregulation of Fas/FasL and Bax, activation of caspase-3,-8 and -9 and downregulation of Bcl-2, which then trigger major apoptotic cascades.

Comparison of Primary Breast Cancer Size by Mammography and Sonography

Wang, Jian-Tao,Chang, Li-Ming,Song, Xin,Zhao, Li-Xin,Li, Jun-Tao,Zhang, Wei-Guo,Ji, Ying-Bin,Cai, Li-Na,Di, Wei,Yang, Xin-Yu Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.22

Purpose: To compare tumor size by mammography and sonography and align with pathological results in primary breast cancer cases. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 95 primary breast cancer patients who underwent mammography and sonography from January 2011 to June 2012. The largest tumor diameter was chosen as sizing reference for each imaging modality. The measurements of mammography and sonography were considered concordant if they were within the measurement of pathological results ${\pm}0.5cm$. Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated for imaging results. Results: The range of the maximum diameter was 0.6cm-10.5cm and mean value was $3.81{\pm}2.04cm$ by pathological results, 0.7cm-12.4 cm and $3.99{\pm}2.19cm$ by mammography, and 0.9cm-11.0cm and $3.63{\pm}2.01cm$ by sonography, respectively. Sonography (R: 0.754), underestimated tumor size, but had a better correlation with pathological tumor size compared to mammography (R: 0.676), which overestimated tumor size. Conclusions: Sonography is superior to mammography in assessment of primary breast cancer.

Investigation of Some Hard Coatings Synthesized by Ion Beam Assisted Deposition

He, Jian-Li,Li, Wen-Zhi,He, Xial-Ming,Liu, Chang-Hong The Korean Vacuum Society 1995 Applied Science and Convergence Technology Vol.4 No.s2

Ion beam assisted deposition(IBAD) technique was used to synthesize hard coatings including diamond-like carbon(DLC), carbon nitride(CN) and metal-ceramic multilayered films. It was found that DLC films formed at low energy ion bombardment possess more $Sp^3$ bonds and much higher hardness. The films exhibited an excellent wear resistance. Nanometer multialyered Fe/TiC films was deposited by ion beam sputtering. The structure and properties were strongly dependent on the thickness of the individual layers and modulation wave length. It was disclosed that both hardness and toughness of the films could be enhanced by adjusting the deposition parameters. The CN films synthesized by IBAD method consisted of tiny crystallites dispersed in amorphous matrix, which were identified by electron diffraction pattern to be $\beta -C_3N_4$.

5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine Induces Hepatoma Cell Apoptosis via Enhancing Methionine Adenosyltransferase 1A Expression and Inducing S-Adenosylmethionine Production

Liu, Wei-Jun,Ren, Jian-Guo,Li, Ting,Yu, Guo-Zheng,Zhang, Jin,Li, Chang-Sheng,Liu, Zhi-Su,Liu, Quan-Yan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.11

In hepatocellular cancer (HCC), lack of response to chemotherapy and radiation treatment can be caused by a loss of epigenetic modifications of cancer cells. Methionine adenosyltransferase 1A is inactivated in HCC and may be stimulated by an epigenetic change involving promoter hypermethylation. Therefore, drugs releasing epigenetic repression have been proposed to reverse this process. We studied the effect of the demethylating reagent 5-aza-2'-deoxycitidine (5-Aza-CdR) on MAT1A gene expression, DNA methylation and S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) production in the HCC cell line Huh7. We found that MAT1A mRNA and protein expression were activated in Huh7 cells with the treatment of 5-Aza-CdR; the status of promoter hypermethylation was reversed. At the same time, MAT2A mRNA and protein expression was significantly reduced in Huh7 cells treated with 5-Aza-CdR, while SAMe production was significantly induced. However, 5-Aza-CdR showed no effects on MAT2A methylation. Furthermore, 5-Aza-CdR inhibited the growth of Huh7 cells and induced apoptosis and through down-regulation of Bcl-2, up-regulation of Bax and caspase-3. Our observations suggest that 5-Aza-CdR exerts its anti-tumor effects in Huh7 cells through an epigenetic change involving increased expression of the methionine adenosyltransferase 1A gene and induction of S-adenosylmethionine production.

Preparation of silver Nano-Crystal patterns in oxide glasses under electric field accompanied by heat treatment

Jian Lin,Wen-Hai Huang,Shu-Hua Lei,Chang-Cheng Liu,Qi Bian,Li-Na Ma,Dong-Wei Li 한양대학교 세라믹연구소 2008 Journal of Ceramic Processing Research Vol.9 No.4

Nano-crystals embedded in glass always have interesting quantum effects, while nano-crystal patterns may have wide potential applications in preparing PIC, OEIC and other types of electronic and optoelectronic devices. A direct current electric field, accompanied by heat treatment, was applied on tellurite or silicate glass sheets. The silver ions in a diffused film were introduced into the glass matrix under a high-voltage electric field, instead of supplied during glass melting. The direct diffusion of metal ions, the nucleation and crystallization of nano-crystals in the glass were well controlled by the electric field accompanied by heat treatment. It was found that silver nano-crystal patterns can be transfer printed into tellurite and silicate glass sheets with both patterned diffusion and patterned crystallization. Nano-crystals embedded in glass always have interesting quantum effects, while nano-crystal patterns may have wide potential applications in preparing PIC, OEIC and other types of electronic and optoelectronic devices. A direct current electric field, accompanied by heat treatment, was applied on tellurite or silicate glass sheets. The silver ions in a diffused film were introduced into the glass matrix under a high-voltage electric field, instead of supplied during glass melting. The direct diffusion of metal ions, the nucleation and crystallization of nano-crystals in the glass were well controlled by the electric field accompanied by heat treatment. It was found that silver nano-crystal patterns can be transfer printed into tellurite and silicate glass sheets with both patterned diffusion and patterned crystallization.

Leaf Vein-Inspired Nanochanneled Graphene Film for Highly Efficient Micro-Supercapacitors

Chang, Jian,Adhikari, Subash,Lee, Tae Hoon,Li, Bing,Yao, Fei,Pham, Duy Tho,Le, Viet Thong,Lee, Young Hee Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley Sons) 2015 ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS Vol.5 No.9

β-Sitosterol treatment attenuates cognitive deficits and prevents amyloid plaque deposition in amyloid protein precursor/ presenilin 1 mice

Jian-Ya Ye,Li Li,Qing-Mao Hao,Yong Qin,Chang-Sheng Ma 대한생리학회-대한약리학회 2020 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.24 No.1

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder causing dementia worldwide, and is mainly characterized by aggregated β-amyloid (Aβ). Increasing evidence has shown that plant extracts have the potential to delay AD development. The plant sterol β-Sitosterol has a potential role in inhibiting the production of platelet Aβ, suggesting that it may be useful for AD prevention. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of β-Sitosterol on deficits in learning and memory in amyloid protein precursor/presenilin 1 (APP/PS1) double transgenic mice. APP/PS1 mice were treated with β-Sitosterol for four weeks, from the age of seven months. Brain Aβ metabolism was evaluated using ELISA and Western blotting. We found that β-Sitosterol treatment can improve spatial learning and recognition memory ability, and reduce plaque load in APP/PS1 mice. β-Sitosterol treatment helped reverse dendritic spine loss in APP/PS1 mice and reversed the decreased hippocampal neuron miniature excitatory postsynaptic current frequency. Our research helps to explain and support the neuroprotective effect of β-Sitosterol, which may offer a novel pharmaceutical agent for the treatment of AD. Taken together, these findings suggest that β-Sitosterol ameliorates memory and learning impairment in APP/PS1 mice and possibly decreases Aβ deposition.

Electron-Electron Interactions in a Two-Dimensional Electron Systemin an Al0.15Ga0.85N/GaN Heterostructure Grown on p-Type Si

Jian-Zhe Huang,Li-Hung Lin,Chin-An Chang,Chi-Te Liang,Kuang Yao Chen,Kui-Ming Chen,N. C. Chen,P. H. Chang,Shiou-Shian Han,Zhi-Hao Sun 한국물리학회 2007 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.50 No.3

We report on experimental studies of an Al$_{0.15}$Ga$_{0.85}$N/GaN high-electron-mobility transistor structure grown on a $p$-type Si (111) substrate. This structure is compatible with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology and, thus, has great potential device applications. The low-temperature magnetoresistivity shows a parabolic dependence on the applied perpendicular magnetic field. This effect is ascribed to electron-electron interaction (EEI) effects in a weakly-disordered two-dimensional system. Our experimental results agree with the EEI theory when the correction term in the ballistic region has been subtracted.