Antihepatoma activity of chaetocin due to deregulated splicing of hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α pre‐mRNA in mice and in vitro

Yoon‐Mi Lee, Ji‐Hong Lim, Haejin Yoon, Yang‐Sook Chun, Jong‐Wan Park – 24 September 2010 – Chaetocin, an antibiotic produced by Chaetomium species fungi, was recently found to have antimyeloma activity. Here we examined whether chaetocin has anticancer activities against solid tumors. Chaetocin inhibited the growth of mouse and human hepatoma grafts in nude mice. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that chaetocin inhibits hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) expression and vessel formation in the tumors.

Lineage restriction of human hepatic stem cells to mature fates is made efficient by tissue‐specific biomatrix scaffolds

Yunfang Wang, Cai‐Bin Cui, Mitsuo Yamauchi, Patricia Miguez, Marsha Roach, Richard Malavarca, M. Joseph Costello, Vincenzo Cardinale, Eliane Wauthier, Claire Barbier, David A. Gerber, Domenico Alvaro, Lola M. Reid – 24 September 2010 – Current protocols for differentiation of stem cells make use of multiple treatments of soluble signals and/or matrix factors and result typically in partial differentiation to mature cells with under‐ or overexpression of adult tissue‐specific genes.

Transforming growth factor β1 polymorphisms and progression of graft fibrosis after liver transplantation for hepatitis C virus–‐induced liver disease

Dennis Eurich, Marcus Bahra, Sabine Boas‐Knoop, Johan F. Lock, Jennifer Golembus, Ruth Neuhaus, Peter Neuhaus, Ulf P. Neumann – 21 September 2010 – Re‐infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important development after liver transplantation (LT); it can lead to graft fibrosis. The aim of this study was to assess the role of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1) polymorphisms in the development of HCV‐related graft disease by evaluating protocol liver biopsies.

Bile duct anastomotic stricture after adult‐to‐adult right lobe living donor liver transplantation

Kenneth Siu Ho Chok, See Ching Chan, Tan To Cheung, William Wei Sharr, Albert Chi Yan Chan, Chung Mau Lo, Sheung Tat Fan – 21 September 2010 – Duct‐to‐duct anastomosis (DDA) and hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) are options for biliary reconstruction in patients undergoing adult‐to‐adult right lobe living donor liver transplantation (ARLDLT), after which biliary anastomotic stricture (BAS) is common as a complication. The risk factors for BAS are not clearly defined. We aimed to determine the rate of post‐ARLDLT BAS in our center and its associated factors.

Olprinone attenuates excessive shear stress through up‐regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in a rat excessive hepatectomy model

Kenya Yamanaka, Etsuro Hatano, Masato Narita, Koji Kitamura, Atsuko Yanagida, Hiroyuki Asechi, Hiromitsu Nagata, Kojiro Taura, Takashi Nitta, Shinji Uemoto – 21 September 2010 – After extended hepatectomy, excessive shear stress in the remnant liver causes postoperative liver failure. Olprinone (OLP), a selective phosphodiesterase inhibitor, has been reported to improve microcirculation and attenuate inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of OLP on shear stress in rats with an excessive hepatectomy (EHx) model.

Human T cell microparticles circulate in blood of hepatitis patients and induce fibrolytic activation of hepatic stellate cells

Miroslaw Kornek, Yury Popov, Towia A. Libermann, Nezam H. Afdhal, Detlef Schuppan – 20 September 2010 – Microparticles (MPs) are small cell membrane vesicles that are released from cells during apoptosis or activation. Although circulating platelet MPs have been studied in some detail, the existence and functional role of T cell MPs remain elusive. We show that blood from patients with active hepatitis C (alanine aminotransferase [ALT] level >100 IU/mL) contains elevated numbers of T cell MPs compared with patients with mild hepatitis C (ALT <40 IU/mL) and healthy controls.

Subscribe to