Gideon M. Hirschfield, Katherine A. Siminovitch – 29 October 2009

Gakuhei Son, Ian N. Hines, Jeff Lindquist, Laura W. Schrum, Richard A. Rippe – 29 October 2009 – The hepatic stellate cell (HSC) is the primary cell type in the liver responsible for excess collagen deposition during fibrosis. Following a fibrogenic stimulus the cell changes from a quiescent vitamin A–storing cell to an activated cell type associated with increased extracellular matrix synthesis and increased cell proliferation.

Iris Sawitza, Claus Kordes, Sven Reister, Dieter Häussinger – 29 October 2009 – It is well‐accepted that hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) can develop into myofibroblast‐like cells that synthesize extracellular matrix proteins and contribute to liver fibrosis. Recently, molecular markers of stem/progenitor cells were discovered in HSCs of rats. Moreover, the cells displayed the capacity to differentiate and to participate in liver regeneration.

Xinchao Pan, Xunde Wang, Weiwei Lei, Lihua Min, Yanan Yang, Xin Wang, Jianguo Song – 29 October 2009 – Nitric oxide (NO) is a multifunctional regulator that is implicated in various physiological and pathological processes. Here we report that administration of NO donor S‐nitroso‐N‐acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) inhibited transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1)‐induced epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) and apoptosis in mouse hepatocytes.

Stéphane Chevaliez, Jenna Fix, Alexandre Soulier, Jean‐Michel Pawlotsky – 29 October 2009

Gisèle N'Kontchou, Amel Mahamoudi, Mounir Aout, Nathalie Ganne‐Carrié, Véronique Grando, Emmanuelle Coderc, Eric Vicaut, Jean Claude Trinchet, Nicolas Sellier, Michel Beaugrand, Olivier Seror – 29 October 2009 – For the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is in some centers considered a first‐line therapeutic option. However, such a strategy is still under debate with regard to tumor and patient characteristics.

Jittima Weerachayaphorn, Shi‐Ying Cai, Carol J. Soroka, James L. Boyer – 29 October 2009 – The bile salt export pump (BSEP) is the major determinant of bile salt–dependent bile secretion, and its deficiency leads to cholestatic liver injury. BSEP/Bsep gene expression is regulated by the nuclear farnesoid X receptor. However, BSEP expression, though reduced, is retained in the livers of Fxr−/− mice, indicating that additional transcriptional factors may regulate its expression.

Zhong‐bin Deng, Yuelong Liu, Cunren Liu, Xiaoyu Xiang, Jianhua Wang, Ziqiang Cheng, Spandan V. Shah, Shuangyin Zhang, Liming Zhang, Xiaoying Zhuang, Sue Michalek, William E. Grizzle, Huang‐Ge Zhang – 29 October 2009 – Chronic inflammation plays a critical role in promoting obesity‐related disorders, such as fatty liver disease. The inflammatory cells that mediate these effects remain unknown. This study investigated the accumulation of immature myeloid cells in the liver and their role in liver inflammation.

Patrizia Burra – 29 October 2009 – Key Points

Paige M. Porrett, John Hsu, Abraham Shaked – 29 October 2009 – Key Points