Liver stem cells and hepatocellular carcinoma

Lopa Mishra, Tanuj Banker, Joseph Murray, Stephen Byers, Arun Thenappan, Aiwu Ruth He, Kirti Shetty, Lynt Johnson, E. P. Reddy – 28 December 2008 – Although the existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) was first proposed over 40 years ago, only in the past decade have these cells been identified in hematological malignancies, and more recently in solid tumors that include liver, breast, prostate, brain, and colon. Constant proliferation of stem cells is a vital component in liver tissues.

Disruption of the transcription factor recombination signal‐binding protein‐Jκ (RBP‐J) leads to veno‐occlusive disease and interfered liver regeneration in mice

Lin Wang, Chun‐Mei Wang, Li‐Hong Hou, Guo‐Rui Dou, Yao‐Chun Wang, Xing‐Bin Hu, Fei He, Fan Feng, Hong‐Wei Zhang, Ying‐Min Liang, Ke‐Feng Dou, Hua Han – 28 December 2008 – Liver sinusoid (LS) endothelial cells (LSECs) support hepatocytes in resting livers and proliferate during liver regeneration to revascularize regenerated liver parenchyma. We report that recombination signal‐binding protein‐Jκ (RBP‐J), the critical transcription factor mediating Notch signaling, regulates both resting and regenerating LSECs.

Low retinol levels differentially modulate bile salt–induced expression of human and mouse hepatic bile salt transporters

Martijn O. Hoeke, Jacqueline R.M. Plass, Janette Heegsma, Mariska Geuken, Duncan van Rijsbergen, Julius F.W. Baller, Folkert Kuipers, Han Moshage, Peter L.M. Jansen, Klaas Nico Faber – 28 December 2008 – The farnesoid X receptor/retinoid X receptor‐alpha (FXR/RXRα) complex regulates bile salt homeostasis, in part by modulating transcription of the bile salt export pump (BSEP/ABCB11) and small heterodimer partner (SHP/NR0B2). FXR is activated by bile salts, RXRα by the vitamin A derivative 9‐cis retinoic acid (9cRA). Cholestasis is associated with vitamin A malabsorption.

Bile acids activate fibroblast growth factor 19 signaling in human hepatocytes to inhibit cholesterol 7α‐hydroxylase gene expression

Kwang‐Hoon Song, Tiangang Li, Erika Owsley, Stephen Strom, John Y. L. Chiang – 28 December 2008 – Mouse fibroblast growth factor 15 (FGF15) and human ortholog FGF19 have been identified as the bile acid–induced intestinal factors that mediate bile acid feedback inhibition of cholesterol 7α‐hydroxylase gene (C YP7A1) transcription in mouse liver. The mechanism underlying FGF15/FGF19 inhibition of bile acid synthesis in hepatocytes remains unclear.

The pathogen receptor liver and lymph node sinusoidal endotelial cell C‐type lectin is expressed in human Kupffer cells and regulated by PU.1

Ángeles Domínguez‐Soto, Laura Aragoneses‐Fenoll, Fernando Gómez‐Aguado, María Teresa Corcuera, Joan Clária, Carmelo García‐Monzón, Matilde Bustos, Angel L. Corbí – 28 December 2008 – Human LSECtin (liver and lymph node sinusoidal endothelial cell C‐type lectin, CLEC4G) is a C‐type lectin encoded within the L‐SIGN/DC‐SIGN/CD23 gene cluster. LSECtin acts as a pathogen attachment factor for Ebolavirus and the SARS coronavirus, and its expression can be induced by interleukin‐4 on monocytes and macrophages.

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