Mutations in the hepatitis C virus polymerase that increase RNA binding can confer resistance to cyclosporine A

Zhe Liu, John M. Robida, Sreedhar Chinnaswamy, Guanghui Yi, Jason M. Robotham, Heather B. Nelson, Andre Irsigler, C. Cheng Kao, Hengli Tang – 23 June 2009 – Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection leads to acute and chronic liver diseases, and new classes of anti‐HCV therapeutics are needed. Cyclosporine A (CsA) inhibits HCV replication and CsA derivatives that lack the immunosuppressive function are currently in clinical trials as candidate anti‐HCV drugs.

MicroRNA‐195 suppresses tumorigenicity and regulates G1/S transition of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Teng Xu, Ying Zhu, Yujuan Xiong, Yi‐Yuan Ge, Jing‐Ping Yun, Shi‐Mei Zhuang – 23 June 2009 – Growing evidence indicates that deregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) contributes to tumorigenesis. Down‐regulation of miR‐195 has been observed in various types of cancers. However, the biological function of miR‐195 is still largely unknown. In this study we aimed to elucidate the pathophysiologic role of miR‐195. Our results showed that miR‐195 expression was significantly reduced in as high as 85.7% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and in all of the five HCC cell lines examined.

p21 is required for dextrose‐mediated inhibition of mouse liver regeneration

Alexander Weymann, Eric Hartman, Vered Gazit, Connie Wang, Martin Glauber, Yumirle Turmelle, David A. Rudnick – 23 June 2009 – The inhibitory effect of dextrose supplementation on liver regeneration was first described more than 4 decades ago. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms responsible for this observation have not been elucidated. We investigated these mechanisms using the partial hepatectomy model in mice given standard or 10% dextrose (D10)‐supplemented drinking water.

Nutritional model of steatohepatitis and metabolic syndrome in the Ossabaw miniature swine

Lydia Lee, Mouhamad Alloosh, Romil Saxena, William Van Alstine, Bruce A. Watkins, James E. Klaunig, Michael Sturek, Naga Chalasani – 23 June 2009 – Miniature pigs residing in the Ossabaw Island (Ossabaw pigs) exhibit a thrifty genotype, and when fed a high‐calorie diet they consistently develop metabolic syndrome defined by obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. We conducted a study to induce steatohepatitis in Ossabaw pigs by dietary manipulation.

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