Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 epigenetically silences multiple tumor suppressor microRNAs to promote liver cancer metastasis

Sandy Leung‐Kuen Au, Carmen Chak‐Lui Wong, Joyce Man‐Fong Lee, Dorothy Ngo‐Yin Fan, Felice Hoching Tsang, Irene Oi‐Lin Ng, Chun‐Ming Wong – 28 February 2012 – Epigenetic alterations and microRNA (miRNA) deregulation are common in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27) tri‐methylating enzyme, enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) mediates epigenetic silencing of gene expression and is frequently up‐regulated in human cancers. In this study we aimed to delineate the implications of EZH2 up‐regulation in miRNA deregulation and HCC metastasis.

15‐deoxy‐Δ12,14‐prostaglandin J2 reduces recruitment of bone marrow–derived monocyte/macrophages in chronic liver injury in mice

Zhen Han, Tieping Zhu, Xihong Liu, Changyong Li, Shi Yue, Xin Liu, Le Yang, Lin Yang, Liying Li – 28 February 2012 – 15‐Deoxy‐Δ12,14‐Prostaglandin J2 (15d‐PGJ2), a natural peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma (PPAR‐γ) ligand, has been implicated as a new antiinflammatory compound with possible clinical applications. Based on this concept, this study was designed to evaluate the effects of 15d‐PGJ2 on bone marrow–derived monocyte/macrophage (BMM) migration, phagocytosis, and cytokine expression after liver injury using mouse models induced by cholestasis or carbon tetrachloride.

Liver phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) expression with a PLTP‐null background promotes very low‐density lipoprotein production in mice

Amirfarbod Yazdanyar, Xian‐Cheng Jiang – 24 February 2012 – It is known that plasma phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) activity influences lipoprotein metabolism. The liver is one of the major sites of lipoprotein production and degradation, as well as of PLTP expression. To address the impact of liver‐expressed PLTP on lipoprotein metabolism, we created a mouse model that expresses PLTP in the liver acutely and specifically, with a PLTP‐null background. This approach in mouse model preparations can also be used universally for evaluating the function of many other genes in the liver.

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