Variant 1 of KIAA0101, overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma, prevents doxorubicin‐induced apoptosis by inhibiting p53 activation

Lijuan Liu, Xiaobei Chen, Shuixiang Xie, Chuanjie Zhang, Zhenpeng Qiu, Fan Zhu – 11 May 2012 – KIAA0101 overexpression was detected in numerous malignant solid tumors and involved in tumor progression; however, the correlation between KIAA0101 expression level and human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was controversial.

Pharmacokinetic interaction between the hepatitis C virus protease inhibitor boceprevir and cyclosporine and tacrolimus in healthy volunteers

Ellen Hulskotte, Samir Gupta, Fengjuan Xuan, Marga van Zutven, Edward O'Mara, Hwa‐Ping Feng, John Wagner, Joan Butterton – 11 May 2012 – The hepatitis C virus protease inhibitor boceprevir is a strong inhibitor of cytochrome P450 3A4 and 3A5 (CYP3A4/5). Cyclosporine and tacrolimus are calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressants used to prevent organ rejection after liver transplantation; both are substrates of CYP3A4. This two‐part pharmacokinetic interaction study evaluated boceprevir with cyclosporine (part 1) and tacrolimus (part 2).

Resection of hepatocellular cancer ≤2 cm: Results from two Western centers

Sasan Roayaie, Khaled Obeidat, Carlo Sposito, Luigi Mariani, Sherrie Bhoori, Alessandro Pellegrinelli, Daniel Labow, Josep M. Llovet, Myron Schwartz, Vincenzo Mazzaferro – 11 May 2012 – Asian series have shown a 5‐year survival rate of ≈70% after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ≤2 cm. Western outcomes with resection have not been as good. In addition, ablation of HCC ≤2 cm has been shown to achieve competitive results, leaving the role of resection in these patients unclear.

Detection of alcohol consumption in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis during the evaluation process for liver transplantation

Johann‐Martin Hempel, Gertrud Greif‐Higer, Thomas Kaufmann, Manfred E. Beutel – 10 May 2012 – Alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC) is a commonly accepted indication for liver transplantation (LT). Any alcohol consumption is considered a contraindication for LT. However, the assessment of abstinence in everyday practice mostly relies on patient self‐reporting, which must be considered highly unreliable. After consumption, ethanol is eliminated by alcohol dehydrogenase, with methanol accumulating in the blood.

Human antigen R contributes to hepatic stellate cell activation and liver fibrosis

Ashwin Woodhoo, Marta Iruarrizaga‐Lejarreta, Naiara Beraza, Juan L García‐Rodríguez, Nieves Embade, David Fernández‐Ramos, Nuria Martínez‐López, Virginia Gutiérrez‐De Juan, Beatriz Arteta, Juan Caballeria, Shelly C Lu, José M Mato, Marta Varela‐Rey, María L Martínez‐Chantar – 10 May 2012 – RNA‐binding proteins (RBPs) play a major role in the control of messenger RNA (mRNA) turnover and translation rates. We examined the role of the RBP, human antigen R (HuR), during cholestatic liver injury and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation.

CD81/CD9 tetraspanins aid plasmacytoid dendritic cells in recognition of hepatitis C virus–infected cells and induction of interferon‐alpha

Shuye Zhang, Karen Kodys, Gregory J. Babcock, Gyongyi Szabo – 10 May 2012 – Recognition of hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐infected hepatocyes and interferon (IFN) induction are critical in antiviral immune response. We hypothesized that cell‐cell contact between plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and HCV‐infected cells was required for IFN‐α induction through the involvement of cell‐surface molecules.

Common genetic variation in vitamin D metabolism is associated with liver stiffness

Frank Grünhage, Katrin Hochrath, Marcin Krawczyk, Aksana Höblinger, Barbara Obermayer‐Pietsch, Jürgen Geisel, Michael Trauner, Tilman Sauerbruch, Frank Lammert – 10 May 2012 – Recently, genome‐wide studies identified genetic variants that affect serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D levels in healthy populations (rs12785878, near dehydrocholesterol reductase, DHCR7; rs10741657, at CYP2R1; and rs7041, at vitamin D binding protein, GC).

Deletion of interleukin (IL)‐12p35 induces liver fibrosis in dominant‐negative TGFβ receptor type II mice

Masanobu Tsuda, Weici Zhang, Guo‐Xiang Yang, Koichi Tsuneyama, Yugo Ando, Kazuhito Kawata, Ogyi Park, Patrick S.C. Leung, Ross L. Coppel, Aftab A. Ansari, William M. Ridgway, Bin Gao, Zhe‐Xiong Lian, Richard Flavell, Xiao‐Song He, M.Eric Gershwin – 10 May 2012 – Mice with a dominant‐negative transforming growth factor β receptor restricted to T cells (dnTGFβRII mice) develop an inflammatory biliary ductular disease that strongly resembles human primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC).

Invasive fungal infections following liver transplantation: Incidence, risk factors, survival, and impact of fluconazole‐resistant Candida parapsilosis (2003‐2007)

Anupama Raghuram, Alejandro Restrepo, Saman Safadjou, Jennifer Cooley, Mark Orloff, Dwight Hardy, Sam Butler, Christine E. Koval – 10 May 2012 – Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are associated with a high mortality rate for liver transplantation (LT) recipients. To study the incidence of and risk factors for IFIs in LT recipients and the associated mortality rates, we retrospectively reviewed the records of first‐time deceased donor LT recipients (January 2003 to December 2007). The incidence of IFIs was 12%.

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