Innate immune responses in hepatitis C virus‐exposed healthcare workers who do not develop acute infection

Jens Martin Werner, Theo Heller, Ann Marie Gordon, Arlene Sheets, Averell H. Sherker, Ellen Kessler, Kathleen S. Bean, M'Lou Stevens, James Schmitt, Barbara Rehermann – 5 March 2013 – Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection typically results in chronic disease with HCV outpacing antiviral immune responses. Here we asked whether innate immune responses are induced in healthcare workers who are exposed to small amounts of HCV, but do not develop systemic infection and acute liver disease.

Parenchymal alterations in cirrhotic livers in patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome or portopulmonary hypertension

Changqing Ma, Jeffrey S. Crippin, William C. Chapman, Kevin Korenblat, Neeta Vachharajani, Kristen L. Gunter, Elizabeth M. Brunt – 5 March 2013 – Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) and portopulmonary hypertension (PPH) are distinct pulmonary vascular complications of cirrhosis. Little is known about possible associated hepatic histopathological features.

Should minors be considered as potential living liver donors?

Laura Capitaine, Kristof Thys, Kristof Assche, Sigrid Sterckx, Guido Pennings – 5 March 2013 – For many patients, living donor liver transplantation represents their only hope of receiving a lifesaving graft. In certain (albeit rare) cases, a minor will be the only suitable donor. Living liver donation by minors has been reported in several countries. In the academic literature and professional guidelines, little attention is paid to the development of an ethical framework for this practice. The focus is frequently limited to the donation of regenerative tissues and kidneys.

C‐C motif chemokine receptor 9 positive macrophages activate hepatic stellate cells and promote liver fibrosis in mice

Po‐sung Chu, Nobuhiro Nakamoto, Hirotoshi Ebinuma, Shingo Usui, Keita Saeki, Atsuhiro Matsumoto, Yohei Mikami, Kazuo Sugiyama, Kengo Tomita, Takanori Kanai, Hidetsugu Saito, Toshifumi Hibi – 4 March 2013 – Chemokine receptors mediate migration of immune cells into the liver, thereby promoting liver inflammation. C‐C motif chemokine receptor (CCR) 9+ macrophages are crucial in the pathogenesis of acute liver inflammation, but the role and underlying mechanisms of this macrophage subset in chronic liver injury and subsequent liver fibrosis are not fully understood.

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