Therapeutic RNA silencing of Cys‐X3‐Cys chemokine ligand 1 gene prevents mice from adenovirus vector‐induced acute liver injury

Qingfeng Chen, Haiming Wei, Rui Sun, Jian Zhang, Zhigang Tian – 26 January 2008 – Gene therapy using adenovirus vectors may induce acute liver injury. Tissue injury induced by an adenovirus is likely associated with elevated expression of the Cys‐X3‐Cys chemokine ligand 1 (CX3CL1)/fractalkine (FKN) protein at the site of inflammation. However, the extent to which the actions of FKN contribute to liver injury remains unclear.

Adenosine monophosphate–activated protein kinase modulates the activated phenotype of hepatic stellate cells

Alessandra Caligiuri, Cristiana Bertolani, Cristina Tosti Guerra, Sara Aleffi, Sara Galastri, Marco Trappoliere, Francesco Vizzutti, Stefania Gelmini, Giacomo Laffi, Massimo Pinzani, Fabio Marra – 26 January 2008 – Adiponectin limits the development of liver fibrosis and activates adenosine monophosphate–activated protein kinase (AMPK). AMPK is a sensor of the cellular energy status, but its possible modulation of the fibrogenic properties of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) has not been established.

CD161 expression on hepatitis C virus–specific CD8+ T cells suggests a distinct pathway of T cell differentiation

John W. Northfield, Victoria Kasprowicz, Michaela Lucas, Nadine Kersting, Bertram Bengsh, Arthur Kim, Rodney E. Phillips, Bruce D. Walker, Robert Thimme, Georg Lauer, Paul Klenerman – 26 January 2008 – Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes chronic infection accompanied by a high risk of liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. CD8+ T cell responses are important in the control of viremia. However, the T cell response in chronic infection is weak both in absolute numbers and in the range of epitopes targeted.

Natural killer T cells exacerbate liver injury in a transforming growth factor β receptor II dominant‐negative mouse model of primary biliary cirrhosis

Ya‐Hui Chuang, Zhe‐Xiong Lian, Guo‐Xiang Yang, Shang‐An Shu, Yuki Moritoki, William M. Ridgway, Aftab A. Ansari, Mitchell Kronenberg, Richard A. Flavell, Bin Gao, M. Eric Gershwin – 26 January 2008 – Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an organ‐specific autoimmune liver disease characterized by the presence of antimitochondrial antibodies and the destruction of small intrahepatic bile ducts with portal inflammation. In previous studies, we reported that both CD1d expression and the frequency of CD1d‐restricted natural killer T (NKT) cells were increased in the livers of patients with PBC.

Navigation skill impairment: Another dimension of the driving difficulties in minimal hepatic encephalopathy

Jasmohan S. Bajaj, Muhammad Hafeezullah, Raymond G. Hoffmann, Rajiv R. Varma, Jose Franco, David G. Binion, Thomas A. Hammeke, Kia Saeian – 26 January 2008 – Patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) have attention, response inhibition, and working memory difficulties that are associated with driving impairment and high motor vehicle accident risk. Navigation is a complex system needed for safe driving that requires functioning working memory and other domains adversely affected by MHE.

Characterization of ionotrophic purinergic receptors in hepatocytes

Daniel S. Emmett, Andrew Feranchak, Gordan Kilic, Livia Puljak, Bonnie Miller, Svjetlana Dolovcak, Ryan McWilliams, R. Brian Doctor, J. Gregory Fitz – 26 January 2008 – Ionotrophic purinergic (P2X) receptors function as receptor‐gated cation channels, where agonist binding leads to opening of a nonselective cation pore permeable to both Na+ and Ca2+.

High molecular weight adiponectin inhibits proliferation of hepatic stellate cells via activation of adenosine monophosphate–activated protein kinase

Masayuki Adachi, David A. Brenner – 26 January 2008 – Adiponectin is an adipocyte‐derived, antidiabetic, antiatherogenic adipocytokine that is present in serum as 3 isoforms. Decreased plasma adiponectin levels are closely associated with the severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases. This study was designed to elucidate a role of adiponectin and its mediator adenosine monophosphate–activated protein kinase (AMPK) on proliferation of activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the key cells promoting fibrosis.

Herbal product use by persons enrolled in the hepatitis C Antiviral Long‐Term Treatment Against Cirrhosis (HALT‐C) Trial

Leonard B. Seeff, Teresa M. Curto, Gyongyi Szabo, Gregory T. Everson, Herbert L. Bonkovsky, Jules L. Dienstag, Mitchell L. Shiffman, Karen L. Lindsay, Anna S. F. Lok, Adrian M. Di Bisceglie, William M. Lee, Marc G. Ghany, HALT‐C Trial Group – 26 January 2008 – Herbal products, used for centuries in Far Eastern countries, are gaining popularity in western countries. Surveys indicate that persons with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) often use herbals, especially silymarin (milk thistle extract), hoping to improve the modest response to antiviral therapy and reduce side effects.

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