• Applied Microscopy
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 1982

A number of recent ultrastructural studies have shown marked differences between the two lining cell types in adult liver sinusoids, endothelial cells and Kupffer cells. In the present study, the ultrastructural features and electron microscopic cytochemistry of sinusoidal lining cells in the fetal liver were studied through fetal period to neonate in the rat. At fetal period, the sinusoid, which contains various blood component, in lined by the endothelial cells, the Kupffer cells and the fat storing cells that located in the space of Disse. As gestation proceeded, these eel's are arranged as adult liver sinusoids. The sinusoidal wall appears to be discontinuous with open fenestration between endothelial cells, but no basal lamina can observed. It seems to be morphologically and functionally distinct at the early gestation between the endothelial cells and the Kupffer cells, the latter showing marked phagocytized activity. The fat storing cells, which contain several fat droplets, are located in the space of Disse. Ultrastructural localization of the acid and alkaline phosphatase activity were noted on the sinusoidal lining cells.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.164-175
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• 2008

1. Objective The purpose of this study is to investigate the anti-aging and anti-oxidant effects of Bopyewon-tang(BPW) in Liver and Lung cell. 2. Methods This experiment was used the tissue of liver and lung cells of 6, 52 and 68 weeks old SD rats. Each age group was again divided into three groups. One group, as normal group, was not-treated cells, another group, as control group, was saline-treated cells, and the last group, as experimental group, was BPW -treated cells. After culture for 48 hours, each groups measured the level of SOD, GSH, MDA and NO in the tissue of liver and lung cells. 3. Results and Conclusion 1. The activity of SOD in liver of in 52 w-BPW group, 68 w-BPW group, and in lung of 68 w-BPW were significantly increased in comparison with those of the normal groups. 2. The levels of NO in liver of in 68 w-BPW group was significantly decreased in comparison with those of the normal groups. 3. The levels of MDA in lung of in 68 w-BPW group was significantly decreased in comparison with those of the normal groups.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.45-55
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• 2019

The liver is involved in a wide range of activities in vertebrates and some other animals, including metabolism, protein synthesis, detoxification, and the immune system. Until now, various methods have been devised to study liver diseases; however, each method has its own limitations. In situ liver perfusion machinery, originally developed in rats, has been successfully adapted to mice, enabling the study of liver diseases. Here we describe the protocol, which is a simple but widely applicable method for investigating the liver diseases. The liver is perfused in situ by cannulation of the portal vein and suprahepatic inferior vena cava (IVC), with antegrade closed circuit circulation completed by clamping the infrahepatic IVC. In situ liver perfusion can be utilized to evaluate immune cell migration and function, hemodynamics and related cellular reactions in each type of hepatic cells, and the metabolism of toxic or other compounds by changing the composition of the circulating media. In situ liver perfusion method maintains liver function and cell viability for up to 2 h. This study also describes an optional protocol using density-gradient centrifugation for the separation of different types of hepatic cells, allowing the determination of changes in each cell type. In summary, this method of in situ liver perfusion will be useful for studying liver diseases as a complement to other established methods.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.229-238
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• 2012

Cyclooxygenase(COX-2) is an inducible enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of prostaglandins (PGs) from arachidonic acid. Over-expression of COX-2 has been reported to be associated with progressive hepatic fibrosis in chronic hepatic C infection and rat liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride($CCl_4$). Recently, it is well known that mast cell products can stimulate the proliferation of hepatic stellate cells and key players in liver fibrosis. But little is known regarding their role in $CCl_4$-induced liver fibrosis in rat. Our aim was to investigate the relation between COX-2 expression and mast cells during liver fibrosis after $CCl_4$ treatment. Thirty Wistar rats were divided into five groups (non-treated 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8-week after $CCl_4$-treatment). Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry were used to assess the expression of ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin (${\alpha}$-SMA), collagen-1 and COX-2 in liver tissue from $CCl_4$-treated rats. The density of collagen and mast cells were determined using a computerized image analysis system in liver sections stained with picrosirius red and toluidine blue, respectively. The expression levels of ${\alpha}$-SMA, collagen-1 and COX-2 mRNA were significantly higher at 2 wk in $CCl_4$-treated groups than non-treated group. The number of mast cells in liver tissues increased gradually from 2 wk to 6 wk depending on the fibrosis severity but decreased abruptly at 8 wk. The significant increase of collagen-1 and ${\alpha}$-SMA mRNA expression in $CCl_4$-treated rats was continued until 6 wk while the COX-2 mRNA was significantly decreased at 8 wk. These results suggest that increased mast cells are closely associated with COX-2 over-expression during hepatic fibrogenesis of $CCl_4$-treated rats.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.36-44
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• 2016

Objectives: Granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) mobilized bone marrow (BM)-derived hematopoietic stem cells could contribute to improvement of liver function. In addition, liver fibrosis can reportedly be prevented by the Rg 1 component of red ginseng. This study investigated the combined effect of G-CSF and red ginseng on decompensated liver cirrhosis. Methods: Four patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis were injected with G-CSF to proliferate BM stem cells for 4 days ($5{\mu}g/kg$ bid subcutaneously) and followed-up for 3 months. The patients also received red ginseng for 4 days (2 tablets tid per os). We analyzed Child-Pugh scores, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores and cirrhotic complications. Results: All patients showed marked increases in White blood cell (WBC) and CD34+ cells in the peripheral blood, with a peak time of 4 days after G-CSF injection. Spleen size also increased after G-CSF injection, but not severely. At end of the study, 2 patients showed improvement in Child-Pugh scores, hepatic encephalopathy, and refractory ascites. During the clinical trial period, none of the 4 patients showed any other adverse events or deterioration of liver function. Conclusions: We conclude that G-CSF/red ginseng combination therapy is relatively effective in improving liver function and major complications of decompensated liver cirrhosis without adverse effects. Further clinical trials are warranted to assess the clinical effects of G-CSF for decompensated liver cirrhosis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.331-341
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• 2021

Liver cancer is a common tumor and currently the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally. Liver cancer is highly related to inflammation as more than 90% of liver cancer arises in the context of hepatic inflammation, such as hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection. Despite significant improvements in the therapeutic modalities for liver cancer, patient prognosis is not satisfactory due to the limited efficacy of current drug therapies in anti-metastatic activity. Therefore, developing new effective anti-cancer agents with anti-metastatic activity is important for the treatment of liver cancer. In this study, SP-8356, a verbenone derivative with anti-inflammatory activity, was investigated for its effect on the growth and migration of liver cancer cells. Our findings demonstrated that SP-8356 inhibits the proliferation of liver cancer cells by inducing apoptosis and suppressing the mobility and invasion ability of liver cancer cells. Functional studies revealed that SP-8356 inhibits the mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathways, which are related to cell proliferation and metastasis, resulting in the downregulation of metastasis-related genes. Moreover, using an orthotopic liver cancer model, tumor growth was significantly decreased following treatment with SP-8356. Thus, this study suggests that SP-8356 may be a potential agent for the treatment of liver cancer with multimodal regulation.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.97-103
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• 2005

The genotoxic effect of antimalarial drugs amodiaquine (AQ), mefloquine (MQ) and halofantrine (HF) was investigated in.at liver cells using the alkaline comet assay. AQ, MQ and HF at concentrations between $0-1000{\mu}mol/L$ significantly increased DNA strand breaks of rat liver cells dose-dependently. The order of induction of strand breaks was AQ>MQ>HF. The rat liver cells exposed to AQ and HF (200 and 400 ${\mu}mol/L$) and treated with (Fpg) the bacterial DNA repair enzyme that recognizes oxidized purine showed greater DNA damage than those not treated with the enzyme, providing evidence that AQ and HF induced oxidation of purines. Such an effect was not observed when MQ was treated with the enzyme. Treatment of cells with catalase, an enzyme inactivating hydrogen peroxide, decreased significantly the extent of DNA damage induced by AQ, and HF but not the one induced by MQ. Similarly quercetin, an antioxidant flavonoid at $50{\mu}mol/L$ attenuated the extent of the formation of DNA strand breaks by both AQ and HE. Quercetin, however, did not modify the effects of MQ. These results indicate the genotoxicity of AQ, MQ and HF in rat liver cells. In addition, the results suggest that reactive oxygen species may be involved in the formation of DNA lesions induced by AQ and HF and that, free radical scavengers may elicit protective effects against genotoxicity of these antimalarial drugs.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.62-72
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• 2018

This study investigated the anti-obesity effect of a pear (Fructus Pyri Pyrifoliae) extract fermented by lactic-acid bacteria on obesity induced by a high-fat diet in rats. Body-weight measurement, blood analysis, and light microscope observation of adipose tissue in liver and epididymis were conducted after 8 weeks. Gene expression of leptin, adiponectin, and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) in liver cells were also investigated. Compared to CON, PFA and PFB showed 8% weight reduction along with weight reduction of adipose tissue in liver and epididymis. Observing the microstructure of liver cells showed that lipid droplets were smaller in PFA and PFB than in CON. We confirmed that Fructus Pyri Pyrifoliae extract fermented by lactic-acid bacteria can affect gene expression of leptin, adiponectin, and $TNF-{\alpha}$ in liver cells, showing an obesity treatment effect. From the results above, it was observed that weight gain from increased gene expression in adipose cells as well as from the increased proportion of adipose cells caused by a high-fat diet can be statistically significantly reduced by taking Fructus Pyri Pyrifoliae extract fermented by lactic-acid bacteria. Therefore, Fructus Pyri Pyrifoliae extract fermented by lactic-acid bacteria can be effective for preventing and treating obesity by reducing weight and adipose cells.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.329-336
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to evaluate cytoprotective effect of Korean medicinal plants on alcohol-induced cytotoxicity in liver cells. Out of the 120 plant extracts tested in this study, 53 plant extracts enhanced alcohol-induced cytotoxicity in liver cells by 50~80%, while other 11 plant extracts including Crataegus pinnatifida reduced cytotoxicity by 1~68%. The results of DPPH free radical test and LDL lipid peroxidation test on the plant extracts that sharply reduced cytotoxicity in liver cells shows that Crataegus pinnatifida and Cinnamomum cassia had antioxidative effect. This study reports that the plant extracts that enhance or reduce ethanol-induced cytotoxicity in liver cells can be research objects as cytotoxic plants or cytotoxicity-protective plants.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.100010.1-100010.12
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• 2024

Recently, the incidence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is increasing due to the high prevalence of metabolic conditions, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Steatotic liver is a hotspot for cancer metastasis in MASLD. Altered lipid metabolism, a hallmark of MASLD, remodels the tissue microenvironment, making it conducive to the growth of metastatic liver cancer. Tumors exacerbate the dysregulation of hepatic metabolism by releasing extracellular vesicles and particles into the liver. Altered lipid metabolism influences the proliferation, differentiation, and functions of immune cells, contributing to the formation of an immunosuppressive and metastasis-prone liver microenvironment in MASLD. This review discusses the mechanisms by which the steatotic liver promotes liver metastasis progression, focusing on its role in fostering an immunosuppressive microenvironment in MASLD. Furthermore, this review highlights lipid metabolism manipulation strategies for the therapeutic management of metastatic liver cancer.