Increased prevalence of antimitochondrial antibodies in first‐degree relatives of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis

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.

Insights in the regulation of cholesterol 7α‐hydroxylase gene reveal a target for modulating bile acid synthesis

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.

Identification of a novel class of dithiolethiones that prevent hepatic insulin resistance via the adenosine monophosphate–activated protein kinase–p70 ribosomal S6 kinase‐1 pathway

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.

Pancreatic and duodenal homeobox gene 1 induces hepatic dedifferentiation by suppressing the expression of CCAAT/enhancer‐binding protein β

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.

Differences between Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic patients with primary biliary cirrhosis in the United States

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.

Fate of extrahepatic human stem and precursor cells after transplantation into mouse livers

Marc Brulport, Wiebke Schormann, Alexander Bauer, Matthias Hermes, Carolin Elsner, Friedrich Jakob Hammersen, Walter Beerheide, Dimitry Spitkovsky, Wolfgang Härtig, Andreas Nussler, Lars Christian Horn, Jeanett Edelmann, Oliver Pelz‐Ackermann, Jörg Petersen, Manja Kamprad, Marc von Mach, Amelie Lupp, Henryk Zulewski, Jan G. Hengstler – 24 August 2007 – In recent years, a large number of groups studied the fate of human stem cells in livers of immunodeficient animals. However, the interpretation of the results is quite controversial.

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