Anna M. G. Cali, Sonia Caprio – 23 June 2009

Stefan Vollmer, Valérie Kappler, Jakub Kaczor, Daniela Flügel, Catherine Rolvering, Nobuyuki Kato, Thomas Kietzmann, Iris Behrmann, Claude Haan – 23 June 2009 – The interleukin‐6–type cytokine oncostatin M (OSM) acts via the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway as well as via activation of mitogen‐activated protein kinases and is known to critically regulate processes such as liver development and regeneration, hematopoiesis, and angiogenesis, which are also determined by hypoxia with the hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) as a key component.

Karlin Raja Karlmark, Ralf Weiskirchen, Henning W. Zimmermann, Nikolaus Gassler, Florent Ginhoux, Christian Weber, Miriam Merad, Tom Luedde, Christian Trautwein, Frank Tacke – 23 June 2009 – In addition to liver‐resident Kupffer cells, infiltrating immune cells have recently been linked to the development of liver fibrosis. Blood monocytes are circulating precursors of tissue macrophages and can be divided into two functionally distinct subpopulations in mice: Gr1hi (Ly6Chi) and Gr1lo (Ly6Clo) monocytes.

Nathan A. Davies, Gavin Wright, Lars M. Ytrebø, Vanessa Stadlbauer, Ole‐Martin Fuskevåg, Claudia Zwingmann, D. Ceri Davies, Abeba Habtesion, Stephen J. Hodges, Rajiv Jalan – 23 June 2009 – Treatment of hyperammonemia and hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhosis is an unmet clinical need.

Mario Strazzabosco, Romina Fiorotto, Saida Melero, Shannon Glaser, Heather Francis, Carlo Spirli, Gianfranco Alpini – 23 June 2009 – Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is generated by adenylyl cyclases (ACs), a group of enzymes with different tissue specificity and regulation. We hypothesized that AC isoforms are heterogeneously expressed along the biliary tree, are associated with specific secretory stimuli, and are differentially modulated in cholestasis.

Alexis St. George, Adrian Bauman, Amanda Johnston, Geoffrey Farrell, Tien Chey, Jacob George – 23 June 2009 – Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, characterized by elevated liver enzymes, central obesity, and insulin resistance, is becoming increasingly prevalent. The effects of changes in physical activity on the metabolic profile of this group have not been reported. We assessed at 3 months the impact of a behavior change‐based lifestyle intervention on physical activity and the effects of this change on the metabolic profile of people with fatty liver disease.

George N. Ioannou, Olivia B. Morrow, Marah L. Connole, Sum P. Lee – 23 June 2009 – Little is known about the impact of dietary factors on the progression of liver disease. Our aim was to determine whether dietary intake was associated with the risk of cirrhosis‐related or liver cancer–related death or hospitalization in the U.S. population.

Marc‐Oliver Riener, Frank Stenner, Heike Liewen, Claus Hellerbrand, Marcus Bahra, Glen Kristiansen – 23 June 2009

Maria Serena Longhi, Ragai R. Mitry, Marianne Samyn, Astrid Scalori, Munther J. Hussain, Alberto Quaglia, Giorgina Mieli‐Vergani, Yun Ma, Diego Vergani – 23 June 2009 – Interface hepatitis, the histological lesion typical of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), is composed of CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes and of innate immunity cells, particularly monocytes. Studies in AIH have focused on autoreactive CD4 and CD8 T cells and impairment of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (T‐regs), whereas little is known about the role of monocytes and their relationship with T‐regs.

Leen Delang, Jan Paeshuyse, Inge Vliegen, Pieter Leyssen, Susan Obeid, David Durantel, Fabien Zoulim, Anne Op de Beeck, Johan Neyts – 23 June 2009 – Statins are 3‐hydroxyl‐3‐methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitors used for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. It was recently reported that statins inhibit in vitro hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA replication.