Brittany V. Martin‐Murphy, Douglas J. Kominsky, David J. Orlicky, Terrence M. Donohue, Cynthia Ju – 13 November 2012 – Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose causes severe, fulminant liver injury. The underlying mechanism of APAP‐induced liver injury (AILI), studied by a murine model, displays similar characteristics of injury as those observed in patients. Previous studies suggest that aside from APAP‐induced direct damage to hepatocytes, the hepatic innate immune system is activated and may contribute to the overall pathogenesis of AILI.

Elodie Beaumont, Romuald Patient, Christophe Hourioux, Isabelle Dimier‐Poisson, Philippe Roingeard – 13 November 2012 – The development of a prophylactic vaccine against hepatitis C virus (HCV) has become an important medical priority, because 3‐4 million new HCV infections are thought to occur each year worldwide. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is another major human pathogen, but infections with this virus can be prevented with a safe, efficient vaccine, based on the remarkable ability of the envelope protein (S) of this virus to self‐assemble into highly immunogenic subviral particles.

Hai‐Chon Lee, Sung‐Sang J. Sung, Peter D. Krueger, Yoon‐Ah Jo, Hugo R. Rosen, Steven F. Ziegler, Young S. Hahn – 13 November 2012 – Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Here we report that infection of hepatic cells by HCV stimulates nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB)‐dependent production of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). Hepatocyte‐derived TSLP in turn conditions dendritic cells (DCs) to drive T‐helper (Th)17 differentiation.

Kumiko Isse, Andrew Lesniak, Kedar Grama, John Maier, Susan Specht, Marcela Castillo‐Rama, John Lunz, Badrinath Roysam, George Michalopoulos, Anthony J. Demetris – 13 November 2012 – Routine light microscopy identifies two distinct epithelial cell populations in normal human livers: hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells (BECs). Considerable epithelial diversity, however, arises during disease states when a variety of hepatocyte‐BEC hybrid cells appear.

Hyunsun Jo, Sung Sik Choe, Kyung Cheul Shin, Hagoon Jang, Jae Ho Lee, Je Kyung Seong, Sung Hoon Back, Jae Bum Kim – 13 November 2012 – Recent evidence suggests that obese animals exhibit increased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the liver and adipose tissue. Although ER stress is closely associated with lipid homeostasis, it is largely unknown how ER stress contributes to hepatic steatosis. In this study, we demonstrate that the induction of ER stress stimulates hepatic steatosis through increased expression of the hepatic very low‐density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR).

Camille Sureau, Jessica Salisse – 13 November 2012 – Two determinants of infectivity have been identified in the hepatitis B virus (HBV) envelope proteins: a pre‐S1 receptor‐binding site and an uncharacterized determinant in the antigenic loop (AGL), which is structurally related to the antigenic a‐determinant. Infection would proceed through virus attachment to cell surface heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycans (HSPGs) before pre‐S1 engages a specific receptor for uptake.

Xijun Wang, Aihua Zhang, Hui Sun – 13 November 2012 – Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the commonest primary hepatic malignancy and the third most common cause of cancer‐related death worldwide. Incidence remains highest in the developing world and is steadily increasing across the developed world. Current diagnostic modalities, of ultrasound and α‐fetoprotein, are expensive and lack sensitivity in tumor detection. Because of its asymptomatic nature, HCC is usually diagnosed at late and advanced stages, for which there are no effective therapies.

Dhiraj Tripathi – 9 November 2012 – Watch the interview with the author

Harjit K. Bhogal, Arun J. Sanyal – 9 November 2012 – Watch a video presentation of this article

Harjit K. Bhogal, Arun J. Sanyal – 9 November 2012 – Watch a video presentation of this article