Targeting transforming growth factor (TGF)‐βRI inhibits activation of β1 integrin and blocks vascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma

Emilia Fransvea, Antonio Mazzocca, Salvatore Antonaci, Gianluigi Giannelli – 24 February 2009 – Vascular invasion is one of the major negative prognostic factors in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), leading to cancer recurrence. To invade, HCC cells must penetrate the vessel wall, consisting of endothelial cells and extracellular matrix components, including fibronectin and fibrinogen. Employing invasive and noninvasive HCC cells, we studied the mechanism underlying vascular invasion.

Gene expression signatures of peripheral CD4+ T cells clearly discriminate between patients with acute and chronic hepatitis B infection

Nirupma TrehanPati, Robert Geffers, Sukriti, Syed Hissar, Peggy Riese, Tanja Toepfer, Jan Buer, Manoj Kumar, Carlos A. Guzman, Shiv Kumar Sarin – 24 February 2009 – CD4+ T and regulatory T cells (Tregs) seem to play a key role in persistence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, the molecular events by which Tregs exert their modulatory activity are largely unknown.

Early gene expression profiles of patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon‐alfa and ribavirin

Zobair M. Younossi, Ancha Baranova, Arian Afendy, Rochelle Collantes, Maria Stepanova, Ganiraju Manyam, Anita Bakshi, Christopher L. Sigua, Joanne P. Chan, Ayuko A. Iverson, Christopher D. Santini, Sheng‐Yung P. Chang – 24 February 2009 – Responsiveness to hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy depends on viral and host factors. Our aim was to assess sustained virologic response (SVR)‐associated early gene expression in patients with HCV receiving pegylated interferon‐alpha2a (PEG‐IFN‐α2a) or PEG‐IFN‐α2b and ribavirin with the duration based on genotypes.

Apotopes and the biliary specificity of primary biliary cirrhosis

Ana Lleo, Carlo Selmi, Pietro Invernizzi, Mauro Podda, Ross L. Coppel, Ian R. Mackay, Gregory J. Gores, Aftab A. Ansari, Judy Van de Water, M. Eric Gershwin – 24 February 2009 – Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is characterized by antimitochondrial antibodies (AMAs), directed to the E2 component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC‐E2). Notwithstanding the presence of mitochondria in virtually all nucleated cells, the destruction in PBC is limited to small intrahepatic bile ducts.

Efficient hepatocyte engraftment and long‐term transgene expression after reversible portal embolization in nonhuman primates

Ibrahim Dagher, Tuan Huy Nguyen, Marie‐Thérèse Groyer‐Picard, Panagiotis Lainas, Sylvie Mainot, Catherine Guettier, Danièle Pariente, Dominique Franco, Anne Weber – 24 February 2009 – The feasibility of ex vivo gene therapy as an alternative to liver transplantation for the treatment of liver metabolic diseases needs to be analyzed in large animal models. This approach requires appropriate gene transfer vectors and effective hepatocyte engraftment.

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