Distribution of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 (PNPLA3) and interleukin-28B (IL28B) genes in 260 HCV-infected patients.

<p>Distribution of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 (PNPLA3) and interleukin-28B (IL28B) genes in 260 HCV-infected patients.</p

Factors associated with fatty change of the liver by multivariate analysis.

<p> Hepatic cirrhosis was diagnosed by ultrasonography.</p

Comparison of patient characteristics with or without fatty change of the liver.

<p>± standard deviation. *<i>P</i>-value, between two groups with and without fatty liver by Student's t-test or chi-square test; HCV RNA levels, high: ≥5 logIU/mL; HCV RNA levels, low: <5 logIU/mL; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; γ-GTP, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase; APRI, aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index: AST (IU/L)/35/PLT (10³/μL) ×100; fatty liver and hepatic cirrhosis were diagnosed by ultrasonography. Data are presented as mean </p

Comparison of patient characteristics with or without hepatic cirrhosis.

<p>± standard deviation. *<i>P</i>-value, between two groups with and without hepatic cirrhosis by Student's t-test or chi-square test; HCV RNA levels, high: ≥5 logIU/mL; HCV RNA levels, low: <5 logIU/mL; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; γ-GTP, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase; APRI, aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index: AST (IU/L)/35/PLT (10³/μL) ×100; fatty liver and hepatic cirrhosis were diagnosed by ultrasonography. Data are presented as mean </p

Baseline characteristics of the 260 patients infected with HCV.

<p>± standard deviation. HCV RNA levels, high: ≥5 logIU/mL; HCV RNA levels, low: <5 logIU/mL; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; γ-GTP, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase; APRI, aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index: AST (IU/L)/35/PLT (10³/μL) ×100; fatty liver and hepatic cirrhosis were diagnosed by ultrasonography. Data are presented as mean </p

Patient characteristics according to PNPLA3 rs738409 genotype.

<p>± standard deviation. *<i>P</i>-value, between two groups with and without PNPLA3 rs738409 G allele by Student's t-test or chi-square test; HCV RNA levels, high: ≥5 logIU/mL; HCV RNA levels, low: <5 logIU/mL; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; γ-GTP, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase; APRI, aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index: AST (IU/L)/35/PLT (10³/μL) ×100; fatty liver and hepatic cirrhosis were diagnosed by ultrasonography. Data are presented as mean </p

MiR-122 directly inhibits PACT expression in LX-2 cells.

<p>(A) MiR-122 inhibits PACT mRNA expression. LX-2 cells were transfected with miR-122 or control miR-C. After incubation in DMEM with 1% FCS for 24 hours, the cells were treated with 100 ng/mL LPS for 24 hours. PACT mRNA was examined by real-time RT-PCR. GAPDH mRNA was used for normalization. (B) MiR-122 inhibits PACT protein expression. Lysates from transfected LX-2 cells were immunoblotted with antibodies against PACT or GAPDH. GAPDH was used as internal control. (C) Nucleotide homology among luciferase constructs of PACT 3´-UTR (wild), PACT 3´-UTR (mutant) and miR-122 (hsa-miR-122-5p). The white rectangle in hsa-miR-122-5p indicates the seed sequence. The nucleotide substitutions in the seed sequence of PACT 3´-UTR are shown in boldface. (D) Inhibition of PACT 3´-UTR (wild) luciferase activity by miR-122. (E) No inhibition of PACT 3´-UTR (mutant) luciferase activity by miR-122. LX-2 cells were transfected with a wild-type or mutant PACT 3´-UTR plasmid and phRluc-TK with miR-122 or miR-C. After 48 hours, luciferase activity was measured using a dual luciferase assay system. Relative luciferase activities (<i>vs</i>. miR-C) are shown. The results are expressed as mean ± SD. NS, no significant difference. (F) MiR-122 inhibits phosphorylation of PKR (p-PKR). Lysates from transfected LX-2 cells were immunoblotted with antibodies against p-PKR (Thr451), PKR or GAPDH. GAPDH was used as internal control. Minimum three replicates were performed for each set of experiments to compile the data as presented.</p

SP600125 enhanced sorafenib-induced apoptosis in human hepatoma cell lines.

<p>(A, B) PLC/RPF/5, (C, D) HepG2.2.15. Apoptosis in cells treated with or without 10 μM sorafenib for 12 hours after treatment with or without 45 μM SP600125 for 12 hours. (A, C) The number of apoptotic cells was determined by APOPercentage apoptosis assay (Biocolor). (B, D) Caspase-3/-7 activity was measured by Caspase-Glo 3/7 assay (Promega). Data are presented as mean ± SD of triplicate samples. *<i>p < 0</i>.<i>05</i> between two groups.</p

Cytokine production in LX-2 cells.

<p>(A) Effects of LPS stimulation on the expression of cytokine mRNA. LX-2 cells were treated with or without 100 ng/mL LPS for 24 hours. Gene expression levels of IL-6, MCP-1 and IL-1β were examined by real-time RT-PCR. GAPDH was used for normalization. (B) Effects of LPS stimulation on the expression of cytokines at protein level. IL-6 and MCP-1 protein levels were determined by ELISA. Results are expressed as mean ± SD. Minimum three replicates were performed for each set of experiments to compile the data as presented.</p

<i>In vivo</i> imaging with the NIR-αHLA probe detected human tumors in various transplantation models.

<p>(A) <i>In vivo</i> fluorescence images of BRG nude mice that had been implanted with small pieces of LC11-JCK xenograft tumors were taken 48 hr after <i>iv</i> injection with the NIR-αHLA probe or the NIR-Isotype probe (left panels). In laparotomized body <i>ex vivo</i> fluorescence images (center panels) and <i>ex vivo</i> fluorescence images (right panels), the fluorescent signal was specifically detected at wavelengths of 720/790 nm using the Kodak <i>In-Vivo</i> Imaging System FX. GI; gastrointestinal tract, Ki; kidney, Xe; LC11-JCK tumor xenograft, Li; liver. (B) <i>In vivo</i> fluorescence images of BRG nude mice that had received an intravenous (via tail-vein) injection of 1×10⁵ HCT 116 cells were taken 48 hr after <i>iv</i> injection with the NIR-αHLA probe (left panels). Laparotomized body <i>ex vivo</i> fluorescence images (right panels) are also shown. A bright-field image is shown in the top panel, a fluorescence image is shown in the center panel, and the composite image is shown in the right panel. (C) An <i>in vivo</i> fluorescence image of a NOG mouse that had received an intrasplenic injection of 1×10⁶ BxPC-3 cells was taken 48 hr after <i>iv</i> injection with the NIR-αHLA probe (left panels). Laparotomized body <i>ex vivo</i> fluorescence images (right panels) are also shown. The fluorescent signal from the NIR-probes was acquired using the Kodak <i>In-Vivo</i> Imaging System FX.</p