Cytochrome P450IID6‐specific CD8 T cell immune responses mirror disease activity in autoimmune hepatitis type 2

Maria Serena Longhi, Munther J. Hussain, Dimitrios P. Bogdanos, Alberto Quaglia, Giorgina Mieli‐Vergani, Yun Ma, Diego Vergani – 27 July 2007 – Autoimmune hepatitis type 2 (AIH‐2) is a severe organ‐specific disorder characterized by liver kidney microsomal antibody type 1 targeting cytochrome P4502D6 (CYP2D6). Growing evidence implicates the involvement of CD8 T cell immune responses in its pathogenesis. We investigated CYP2D6‐specific CD8 T cell human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐A2 restricted responses in AIH‐2 (20 patients, 11 HLA‐A2+).

The international normalized ratio calibrated for cirrhosis (INRliver) normalizes prothrombin time results for model for end‐stage liver disease calculation

Armando Tripodi, Veena Chantarangkul, Massimo Primignani, Federica Fabris, Alessandra Dell'Era, Cinzia Sei, Pier Mannuccio Mannucci – 27 July 2007 – The model for end‐stage‐liver‐disease (MELD) is a mathematical score used to prioritize patients for liver transplantation and includes results for creatinine, bilirubin, and prothrombin time (PT) expressed as international normalized ratio (INR).

Noninvasive diagnosis and monitoring of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: Present and future

Anna Wieckowska, Arthur J. McCullough, Ariel E. Feldstein – 27 July 2007 – Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in the United States, and its prevalence is increasing worldwide. It currently affects approximately 30% of adults and 10% of children in the United States. NAFLD represents a wide spectrum of conditions ranging from simple fatty liver which in general follows a benign nonprogressive clinical course, to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is a more serious form of NAFLD that may progress to cirrhosis and end‐stage liver disease.

Activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress response by hepatitis viruses up‐regulates protein phosphatase 2A

Verena Christen, Susan Treves, Francois H. T. Duong, Markus H. Heim – 27 July 2007 – The up‐regulation of protein phosphatase 2 A (PP2A) is an important factor leading to an inhibition of IFNα signaling caused by viral protein expression. Here, we describe the molecular mechanism involved in PP2Ac up‐regulation by HCV and HBV. HCV and HBV protein expression in cells induces an ER stress response leading to calcium release from the ER. HCV protein expression induces CREB activation, probably through calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase.

Simple blood tests as noninvasive markers of liver fibrosis in hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Leonardo L. Schiavon, Janaína L. N. Schiavon, Roberto J. Carvalho Filho, Juliana P. Sampaio, Valéria P. Lanzoni, Antonio Eduardo B. Silva, Maria Lucia G. Ferraz – 27 July 2007 – HCV infection is common among patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis, and it has been considered an independent risk factor for mortality in this setting. Although liver biopsy in ESRD patients with HCV infection is useful before kidney transplantation, it carries a high risk of complications.

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