Aki Kaimori, James J. Potter, Michael Choti, Zhen Ding, Esteban Mezey, Ayman A. Koteish – 26 August 2010 – Transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) plays a crucial role in the induction of the epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) in hepatocytes, which contributes to the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. The inhibition of the TGFβ1 cascade suppresses EMT and the resultant fibrosis. In this study, we focus on EMT‐induced fibrosis in hepatocytes and the epigenetic regulation of the type I collagen gene.

Ian A. Rowe – 26 August 2010

Silvia Ferri, Maria Serena Longhi, Chiara De Molo, Claudine Lalanne, Paolo Muratori, Alessandro Granito, Munther J. Hussain, Yun Ma, Marco Lenzi, Giorgina Mieli‐Vergani, Francesco B. Bianchi, Diego Vergani, Luigi Muratori – 26 August 2010 – Immunotolerance is maintained by regulatory T cells (Tregs), including CD4+CD25hi, CD8+CD28−, γδ, and CD3+CD56+ [natural killer T (NKT)] cells. CD4+CD25hi cells are impaired in children with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Little is known about Tregs in adults with AIH.

Bert‐Jan F. de Rooij, Bart van Hoek, W. Rogier ten Hove, Anja Roos, Lee H. Bouwman, Alexander F. Schaapherder, Robert J. Porte, Mohamed R. Daha, Johan J. van der Reijden, Minneke J. Coenraad, Jan Ringers, Andrzej G. Baranski, Bouke G. Hepkema, Daniel W. Hommes, Hein W. Verspaget – 26 August 2010 – Infectious complications after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) are a major clinical problem. The lectin pathway of complement activation is liver‐derived and a crucial effector of the innate immune defense against pathogens.

Elena Miranda, Juan Pérez, Ugo I. Ekeowa, Nedim Hadzic, Noor Kalsheker, Bibek Gooptu, Bernard Portmann, Didier Belorgey, Marian Hill, Susan Chambers, Jeff Teckman, Graeme J. Alexander, Stefan J. Marciniak, David A. Lomas – 26 August 2010 – Alpha1‐antitrypsin is the most abundant circulating protease inhibitor. The severe Z deficiency allele (Glu342Lys) causes the protein to undergo a conformational transition and form ordered polymers that are retained within hepatocytes. This causes neonatal hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Sherry A. Wuensch, Jessica Spahn, Ian N. Crispe – 26 August 2010 – Both hepatitis B and C viruses frequently establish chronic infection, raising the question whether T cells are poorly primed in the liver. To determine the role of different cell types in the activation of CD8+ T cells against hepatocellular antigens, we used an Adeno‐associated virus to deliver ovalbumin to hepatocytes. In contrast to CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells were not activated.

Alessandra Mangia, Angelo Andriulli – 26 August 2010

Timothy R. Morgan, Marc G. Ghany, Hae‐Young Kim, Kristin K. Snow, Mitchell L. Shiffman, Jennifer L. De Santo, William M. Lee, Adrian M. Di Bisceglie, Herbert L. Bonkovsky, Jules L. Dienstag, Chihiro Morishima, Karen L. Lindsay, Anna S. F. Lok, and the HALT‐C Trial Group – 26 August 2010 – Retrospective studies suggest that subjects with chronic hepatitis C and advanced fibrosis who achieve a sustained virological response (SVR) have a lower risk of hepatic decompensation and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Hua Liu, Yonghak Kim, Saul Sharkis, Zhaohui Ye, Yoon‐Young Jang – 26 August 2010

Sanjeev Arora, Summers Kalishman, Karla Thornton, Denise Dion, Glen Murata, Paulina Deming, Brooke Parish, John Brown, Miriam Komaromy, Kathleen Colleran, Arthur Bankhurst, Joanna Katzman, Michelle Harkins, Luis Curet, Ellen Cosgrove, Wesley Pak – 26 August 2010 – The Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) Model was developed by the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center as a platform to deliver complex specialty medical care to underserved populations through an innovative educational model of team‐based interdisciplinary development.