Liver‐specific loss of glucose‐regulated protein 78 perturbs the unfolded protein response and exacerbates a spectrum of liver diseases in mice

Cheng Ji, Neil Kaplowitz, Mo Yin Lau, Eddy Kao, Lydia M. Petrovic, Amy S. Lee – 18 April 2011 – The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone protein glucose‐regulated protein 78 (GRP78)/binding immunoglobulin protein is a master regulator of ER homeostasis and stress responses, which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders. By applying the locus of X‐over P1–cyclization recombination strategy, we generated mice with liver‐specific GRP78 loss.

Emergence of hepatitis B virus S gene mutants in patients experiencing hepatitis B surface antigen seroconversion after peginterferon therapy

Chao‐Wei Hsu, Chau‐Ting Yeh – 18 April 2011 – With anti–hepatitis B virus (anti‐HBV) therapy using peginterferon, the seroconversion of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), which is considered a cure of the disease, can be achieved in a small percentage of patients. Eight of 245 consecutive patients (3.27%) with chronic hepatitis B who received peginterferon therapy at our center achieved HBsAg seroclearance. Surprisingly, two of the eight patients remained viremic according to standard HBV DNA assays.

Mitochondrial calcium regulates rat liver regeneration through the modulation of apoptosis

Mateus T. Guerra, Emerson A. Fonseca, Flavia M. Melo, Viviane A. Andrade, Carla J. Aguiar, Lídia M. Andrade, Ana Cristina N. Pinheiro, Marisa C. F. Casteluber, Rodrigo R. Resende, Mauro C. X. Pinto, Simone O. A. Fernandes, Valbert N. Cardoso, Elaine M. Souza‐Fagundes, Gustavo B. Menezes, Ana M. de Paula, Michael H. Nathanson, Maria de Fátima Leite – 18 April 2011 – Subcellular Ca2+ signals control a variety of responses in the liver. For example, mitochondrial Ca2+ (Ca) regulates apoptosis, whereas Ca2+ in the nucleus regulates cell proliferation.

Krüppel‐like factor 15 activates hepatitis B virus gene expression and replication

Jie Zhou, Thomas Tan, Yongjun Tian, Bojian Zheng, J.‐H. James Ou, Eric J. Huang, T.S. Benedict Yen – 18 April 2011 – Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a small DNA virus that requires cellular transcription factors for the expression of its genes. To understand the molecular mechanisms that regulate HBV gene expression, we conducted a yeast one‐hybrid screen to identify novel cellular transcription factors that may control HBV gene expression. Here, we demonstrate that Krüppel‐like factor 15 (KLF15), a liver‐enriched transcription factor, can robustly activate HBV surface and core promoters.

Hepatic B7 homolog 1 expression is essential for controlling cold ischemia/reperfusion injury after mouse liver transplantation

Shinya Ueki, Antonino Castellaneta, Osamu Yoshida, Kikumi Ozaki, Matthew Zhang, Shoko Kimura, Kumiko Isse, Mark Ross, Lifang Shao, Donna B. Stolz, Angus W. Thomson, Anthony J. Demetris, David A. Geller, Noriko Murase – 18 April 2011 – Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury remains a key risk factor significantly affecting morbidity and mortality after liver transplantation (LT). B7 homolog 1 (B7‐H1), a recently identified member of the B7 family, is known to play important roles in regulating local immune responses.

Efficacy and safety of entecavir versus adefovir in chronic hepatitis B patients with hepatic decompensation: A randomized, open‐label study

Yun‐Fan Liaw, Maria Raptopoulou‐Gigi, Hugo Cheinquer, Shiv Kumar Sarin, Tawesak Tanwandee, Nancy Leung, Cheng‐Yuan Peng, Robert P. Myers, Robert S. Brown, Lennox Jeffers, Naoky Tsai, Jolanta Bialkowska, Shijie Tang, Suzanne Beebe, Elizabeth Cooney – 18 April 2011 – A randomized, open‐label comparative study of entecavir versus adefovir therapy was performed in subjects with chronic hepatitis B who had hepatic decompensation (Child‐Turcotte‐Pugh score ≥7).

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