Mechanisms of protection by the betaine‐homocysteine methyltransferase/betaine system in HepG2 cells and primary mouse hepatocytes

Cheng Ji, Masao Shinohara, John Kuhlenkamp, Christine Chan, Neil Kaplowitz – 29 October 2007 – Betaine‐homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) regulates homocysteine levels in the liver. We previously reported that the alteration of BHMT is associated with alcoholic liver steatosis and injury. In this study, we tested whether BHMT protects hepatocytes from homocysteine‐induced injury and lipid accumulation. Both BHMT transfectants of HepG2 cells and primary mouse hepatocytes with suppressed BHMT were generated.

Human skin fibroblasts: From mesodermal to hepatocyte‐like differentiation

Philippe A. Lysy, Françoise Smets, Catherine Sibille, Mustapha Najimi, Etienne M. Sokal – 29 October 2007 – The phenotypic homology of fibroblasts and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been recently described. Our study investigated the in vitro potential of human skin fibroblasts to differentiate into mesodermal (osteocyte and adipocyte) and endodermal (hepatocyte) cell lineages by comparison with human bone marrow (hBM) MSCs. The endodermal potential of fibroblasts was then explored in vivo in a mouse model of liver injury.

Keratins let liver live: Mutations predispose to liver disease and crosslinking generates Mallory‐Denk bodies

Nam‐On Ku, Pavel Strnad, Bi‐Hui Zhong, Guo‐Zhong Tao, M. Bishr Omary – 29 October 2007 – Keratin polypeptides 8 and 18 (K8/K18) are the cytoskeletal intermediate filament proteins of hepatocytes while K8/K18/K19 are the keratins of hepatobiliary ductal cells. Hepatocyte K8/K18 are highly abundant and behave as stress proteins with injury‐inducible expression.

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