Protease‐activated receptor 2 promotes experimental liver fibrosis in mice and activates human hepatic stellate cells

Virginia Knight, Jorge Tchongue, Dinushka Lourensz, Peter Tipping, William Sievert – 16 November 2011 – Protease‐activated receptor (PAR) 2 is a G‐protein–coupled receptor that is activated after proteolytic cleavage by serine proteases, including mast cell tryptase and activated coagulation factors. PAR‐2 activation augments inflammatory and profibrotic pathways through the induction of genes encoding proinflammatory cytokines and extracellular matrix proteins. Thus, PAR‐2 represents an important interface linking coagulation and inflammation.

Efficient human fetal liver cell isolation protocol based on vascular perfusion for liver cell–based therapy and case report on cell transplantation

Bruno Gridelli, Giovanni Vizzini, Giada Pietrosi, Angelo Luca, Marco Spada, Salvatore Gruttadauria, Davide Cintorino, Giandomenico Amico, Cinzia Chinnici, Toshio Miki, Eva Schmelzer, Pier Giulio Conaldi, Fabio Triolo, Jörg C. Gerlach – 27 October 2011 – Although hepatic cell transplantation (CT) holds the promise of bridging patients with end‐stage chronic liver failure to whole liver transplantation, suitable cell populations are under debate.

Growth‐hormone–induced signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 signaling causes gigantism, inflammation, and premature death but protects mice from aggressive liver cancer

Katrin Friedbichler, Madeleine Themanns, Kristina M. Mueller, Michaela Schlederer, Jan‐Wilhelm Kornfeld, Luigi M. Terracciano, Andrey V. Kozlov, Susanne Haindl, Lukas Kenner, Thomas Kolbe, Mathias Mueller, Kenneth J. Snibson, Markus H. Heim, Richard Moriggl – 26 October 2011 – Persistently high levels of growth hormone (GH) can cause liver cancer. GH activates multiple signal‐transduction pathways, among them janus kinase (JAK) 2‐signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 5 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 5).

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