Rafael Mayoral, Amalia Fernández‐Martínez, Rosa Roy, Lisardo Boscá, Paloma Martín‐Sanz – 24 August 2007 – Caveolae participate in several cellular processes such as vesicular transport, cholesterol homeostasis, regulation of signal transduction, integrin signaling, and cell growth. The expression and functional role of caveolin (Cav), the most abundant protein of caveolae, has been reported in liver and in different hepatocyte cell lines, in human cirrhotic liver, and in hepatocellular carcinomas.

Thomas F. Baumert, Christine Rösler, Michael H. Malim, Fritz von Weizsäcker – 24 August 2007 – APOBEC3G (A3G) and APOBEC3C (A3C), 2 members of the APOBEC family, are cellular cytidine deaminases displaying broad antiretroviral activity. A3G inhibits hepatitis B virus (HBV) production by interfering with HBV replication without hypermutating the majority of HBV genomes. In contrast, A3C has little effect on HBV DNA synthesis. The aim of this study was to further dissect the mechanisms by which A3G and A3C interfere with the HBV life cycle.

James Versalovic – 24 August 2007

Yun‐Fan Liaw – 24 August 2007

Konstantinos N. Lazaridis, Brian D. Juran, Gwen M. Boe, Joshua P. Slusser, Mariza de Andrade, Henry A. Homburger, Karthik Ghosh, E. Rolland Dickson, Keith D. Lindor, Gloria M. Petersen – 24 August 2007 – Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disorder that can progress to cirrhosis, shortening life expectancy. PBC patients are often asymptomatic, present with biochemical cholestasis, and test positive (≥90%) for antimitochondrial antibodies (AMAs) in serum.

Nico Mitro, Cristina Godio, Emma De Fabiani, Elena Scotti, Andrea Galmozzi, Federica Gilardi, Donatella Caruso, Ana Belen Vigil Chacon, Maurizio Crestani – 24 August 2007 – The transcription of the gene (CYP7A1) encoding cholesterol 7α‐hydroxylase, a key enzyme in cholesterol homeostasis, is repressed by bile acids via multiple mechanisms involving members of the nuclear receptor superfamily. Here, we describe a regulatory mechanism that can be exploited for modulating bile acid synthesis.

Justin L. Mott, Gregory J. Gores – 24 August 2007

Eun Ju Bae, Yoon Mee Yang, Jin Wan Kim, Sang Geon Kim – 24 August 2007 – Several established liver diseases of various causes are highly associated with hepatic insulin resistance, which is characterized by the desensitization of target cells to insulin. Peripheral insulin resistance is observed in most patients who have cirrhosis. Conversely, insulin‐resistant diabetic patients are at increased risk for developing liver disease. Current therapeutic interventions in insulin resistance are limited and therefore likely to be advanced by new tailor‐made drugs.

Irit Meivar‐Levy, Tamar Sapir, Shiraz Gefen‐Halevi, Vered Aviv, Iris Barshack, Nicholas Onaca, Eytan Mor, Sarah Ferber – 24 August 2007 – It is believed that adult tissues in mammals lack the plasticity needed to assume new developmental fates because of the absence of efficient pathways of dedifferentiation.

Marion G. Peters, Adrian M. Di Bisceglie, Kris V. Kowdley, Nancy L. Flye, Velimir A. Luketic, Santiago J. Munoz, Guadalupe Garcia‐Tsao, Thomas D. Boyer, John R. Lake, Maurizio Bonacini, Burton Combes, PUMPS Group – 24 August 2007 – Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an uncommon chronic cholestatic liver disease that primarily afflicts young and middle‐aged Caucasian women; there are limited data on the clinical presentation and disease severity among non‐Caucasian patients with this disease.