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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Hepatitis B virus DNA is subject to extensive editing by the human deaminase APOBEC3C

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.

Dispensability and dynamics of caveolin‐1 during liver regeneration and in isolated hepatic cells

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.

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