Rakesh Aggarwal – 26 September 2008

Paul Pockros, David Nelson, Eliot Godofsky, Maribel Rodriguez‐Torres, Gregory T. Everson, Michael W. Fried, Reem Ghalib, Stephen Harrison, Lisa Nyberg, Mitchell L. Shiffman, Anna Chan, George Hill – 26 September 2008

Maria J. Perugorria, M. Ujue Latasa, Alexandra Nicou, Hugo Cartagena‐Lirola, Josefa Castillo, Saioa Goñi, Umberto Vespasiani‐Gentilucci, Maria G. Zagami, Sophie Lotersztajn, Jesús Prieto, Carmen Berasain, Matias A. Avila – 26 September 2008 – The hepatic wound‐healing response to chronic noxious stimuli may lead to liver fibrosis, a condition characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix. Fibrogenic cells, including hepatic stellate cells and myofibroblasts, are activated in response to a variety of cytokines, growth factors, and inflammatory mediators.

Ian M. Copple, Christopher E. Goldring, Rosalind E. Jenkins, Alvin J. L. Chia, Laura E. Randle, John D. Hayes, Neil R. Kitteringham, B. Kevin Park – 26 September 2008 – The transcription factor Nrf2 regulates the expression of numerous cytoprotective genes in mammalian cells. We have demonstrated previously that acetaminophen activates Nrf2 in mouse liver following administration of non‐hepatotoxic and hepatotoxic doses in vivo, implying that Nrf2 may have an important role in the protection against drug‐induced liver injury.

Keith D. Lindor – 26 September 2008

Jennifer Luebke‐Wheeler, Kezhong Zhang, Michele Battle, Karim Si‐Tayeb, Wendy Garrison, Sodhi Chhinder, Jixuan Li, Randal J. Kaufman, Stephen A. Duncan – 26 September 2008 – Loss of the nuclear hormone receptor hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α) in hepatocytes results in a complex pleiotropic phenotype that includes a block in hepatocyte differentiation and a severe disruption to liver function. Recent analyses have shown that hepatic gene expression is severely affected by the absence of HNF4α, with expression of 567 genes reduced by ≥2.5‐fold (P ≤ 0.05) in Hnf4α−/− fetal livers.

Marina G. Silveira, Ayako Suzuki, Keith D. Lindor – 26 September 2008 – Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurs with increased frequency in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Effectiveness of surveillance recommendations for HCC is controversial, and data are lacking in patients with PBC. In this study, we attempt to (1) establish the importance of surveillance for HCC in patients with PBC; (2) identify a target population of patients with PBC for HCC surveillance; and (3) propose surveillance recommendations for patients with PBC.

Istvan Hritz, Pranoti Mandrekar, Arumugam Velayudham, Donna Catalano, Angela Dolganiuc, Karen Kodys, Evelyn Kurt‐Jones, Gyongyi Szabo – 26 September 2008 – The Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) that recognizes endotoxin, a trigger of inflammation in alcoholic liver disease (ALD), activates two signaling pathways utilizing different adapter molecules: the common TLR adapter, myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), or Toll/interleukin immune‐response–domain‐containing adaptor inducing interferon (IFN)‐β. The MyD88 pathway induces proinflammatory cytokine activation, a critical mediator of ALD.

Jessica D. Korman, Irene Volenberg, Jody Balko, Joe Webster, Frank V. Schiodt, Robert H. Squires, Robert J. Fontana, William M. Lee, Michael L. Schilsky, Pediatric and Adult Acute Liver Failure Study Groups – 26 September 2008 – Acute liver failure (ALF) due to Wilson disease (WD) is invariably fatal without emergency liver transplantation. Therefore, rapid diagnosis of WD should aid prompt transplant listing.

Bertina F. Jones, Rebecca R. Boyles, Sung‐Yong Hwang, Gary S. Bird, James W. Putney – 26 September 2008 – The process of capacitative or store‐operated Ca2+ entry has been extensively investigated, and recently two major molecular players in this process have been described. Stromal interacting molecule (STIM) 1 acts as a sensor for the level of Ca2+ stored in the endoplasmic reticulum, and Orai proteins constitute pore‐forming subunits of the store‐operated channels.