Lectin complement pathway gene profile of donor and recipient determine the risk of bacterial infections after orthotopic liver transplantation

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.

A novel monoclonal antibody to characterize pathogenic polymers in liver disease associated with α1‐antitrypsin deficiency

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.

Direct, help‐independent priming of CD8+ T cells by adeno‐associated virus–transduced hepatocytes

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.

Outcome of sustained virological responders with histologically advanced chronic hepatitis C

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).

Expanding access to hepatitis C virus treatment—Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) project: Disruptive innovation in specialty care

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.

Novel mechanism of antibodies to hepatitis B virus in blocking viral particle release from cells

Avidan U. Neumann, Sandra Phillips, Idit Levine, Samreen Ijaz, Harel Dahari, Rachel Eren, Shlomo Dagan, Nikolai V. Naoumov – 26 August 2010 – Antibodies are thought to exert antiviral activities by blocking viral entry into cells and/or accelerating viral clearance from circulation. In particular, antibodies to hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) confer protection, by binding circulating virus.

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