A multifaceted imbalance of T cells with regulatory function characterizes type 1 autoimmune hepatitis

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.

Histone deacetylase inhibition suppresses the transforming growth factor β1–induced epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition in hepatocytes

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.

Beneficial paracrine effects of cannabinoid receptor 2 on liver injury and regeneration

Fatima Teixeira‐Clerc, Marie‐Pierre Belot, Sylvie Manin, Vanessa Deveaux, Thomas Cadoudal, Marie‐Noele Chobert, Alexandre Louvet, Andreas Zimmer, Thierry Tordjmann, Ariane Mallat, Sophie Lotersztajn – 26 August 2010 – The cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) plays a pleiotropic role in innate immunity and is a crucial mediator of liver disease. In this study, we investigated the impact of CB2 receptors on the regenerative process associated with liver injury.

Suppression of liver regeneration and hepatocyte proliferation in hepatocyte‐targeted glypican 3 transgenic mice

Bowen Liu, Aaron W. Bell, Shirish Paranjpe, William C. Bowen, Jaspal S. Khillan, Jian‐Hua Luo, Wendy M. Mars, George K. Michalopoulos – 26 August 2010 – Glypican 3 (GPC3) belongs to a family of glycosylphosphatidylinositol‐anchored, cell‐surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans. GPC3 is overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma. Loss‐of‐function mutations of GPC3 result in Simpson‐Golabi‐Behmel syndrome, an X‐linked disorder characterized by overgrowth of multiple organs, including the liver.

Direct activation of forkhead box O3 by tumor suppressors p53 and p73 is disrupted during liver regeneration in mice

Svitlana Kurinna, Sabrina A. Stratton, Wen‐Wei Tsai, Kadir C. Akdemir, Weisong Gu, Pallavi Singh, Triona Goode, Gretchen J. Darlington, Michelle Craig Barton – 26 August 2010 – The p53 family of proteins regulates the expression of target genes that promote cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, which may be linked to cellular growth control as well as tumor suppression. Within the p53 family, p53 and the transactivating p73 isoform (TA‐p73) have hepatic‐specific functions in development and tumor suppression.

The association of genetic variability in patatin‐like phospholipase domain‐containing protein 3 (PNPLA3) with histological severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Yaron Rotman, Christopher Koh, Joseph M. Zmuda, David E. Kleiner, T. Jake Liang, the NASH CRN – 26 August 2010 – Genome‐wide association studies identified single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with increased hepatic fat or elevated liver enzymes, presumably reflecting nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Deleterious effects of beta‐blockers on survival in patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites

Thomas Sersté, Christian Melot, Claire Francoz, François Durand, Pierre‐Emmanuel Rautou, Dominique Valla, Richard Moreau, Didier Lebrec – 26 August 2010 – Beta‐blockers may have a negative impact on survival in patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the administration of beta‐blockers on long‐term survival in patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites.

PNPLA3 variants specifically confer increased risk for histologic nonalcoholic fatty liver disease but not metabolic disease

Elizabeth K. Speliotes, Johannah L. Butler, Cameron D. Palmer, Benjamin F. Voight, the GIANT Consortium the MIGen Consortium, the NASH CRN, Joel N. Hirschhorn – 26 August 2010 – Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near 7 loci have been associated with liver function tests or with liver steatosis by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In this study we aim to test whether these SNPs influence the risk of histologically‐confirmed nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Subscribe to