Nobuyoshi Fukushima, Greg Nalbandian, Judy Van De Water, Kandra White, Aftab A. Ansari, Patrick Leung, Thomas Kenny, Shizuo G. Kamita, Bruce D. Hammock, Ross L. Coppel, Freida Stevenson, Hiromi Ishibashi, M. Eric Gershwin – 7 March 2007 – Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an autoimmune liver disease characterized by the presence of autoantibodies to mitochondria (AMA). Recent evidence suggests that PBC develops after a locally driven response in the mucosa, where immunoglobulin A (IgA) is the dominant antibody isotype.

Kenichi Harada, Kazuo Ohba, Satoru Ozaki, Kumiko Isse, Toshiya Hirayama, Akihiro Wada, Yasuni Nakanuma – 7 March 2007 – Human beta‐defensins (hBDs) are important antimicrobial peptides that contribute to innate immunity at mucosal surfaces. This study was undertaken to investigate the expression of hBD‐1 and hBD‐2 in intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells in specimens of human liver, and 4 cultured cell lines (2 consisting of biliary epithelial cells and 2 cholangiocarcinoma cells). In addition, hBD‐1 and hBD‐2 were assayed in specimens of bile.

Eduardo Fassio, Estela Álvarez, Nora Domínguez, Graciela Landeira, Cristina Longo – 7 March 2007 – Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis may cause severe fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, but supporting evidence is based on indirect data. Few publications have examined the results of repeat liver biopsies to evaluate progression of fibrosis. The aims of this study were to assess rate of fibrosis progression in untreated patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and to identify associated variables.

Jay H. Hoofnagle – 7 March 2007

Ruth F. Itzhaki, William L. Irving, Matthew A. Wozniak – 7 March 2007

Brent A. Neuschwander‐Tetri, Elizabeth M. Brunt, Kent R. Wehmeier, Dana Oliver, Bruce R. Bacon – 7 March 2007 – Insulin resistance (IR) commonly is associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). To establish whether IR causes NASH, this study was undertaken to determine if improving IR would improve the histologic features that define NASH. Thirty adults with prior biopsy evidence of NASH were enrolled to receive rosiglitazone, 4 mg twice daily for 48 weeks.

Christine Rollier, Joost A. R. Drexhage, Babs E. Verstrepen, Ernst J. Verschoor, Ronald E. Bontrop, Gerrit Koopman, Jonathan L. Heeney – 7 March 2007 – Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in humans is associated with an impairment of dendritic cells (DC). It has been hypothesized that impairment of DC function may be a central mechanism facilitating the establishment of a chronic carrier state.

Vincent Leroy, Ines Vigan, Jean‐Francois Mosnier, Tania Dufeu‐Duchesne, Martine Pernollet, Jean‐Pierre Zarski, Patrice N. Marche, Evelyne Jouvin‐Marche – 7 March 2007 – The pathogenesis of liver cell injury during chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is poorly understood. The cellular immune response is thought to play a key role in both inhibition of viral replication and liver pathology. However, little is currently known about which lymphocyte populations and which immune effectors contribute to or control liver damage.

Miguel E. Sewnath, Tom Van Der Poll, Cornelis J. F. Van Noorden, Fiebo J. W. Ten Kate, Dirk J. Gouma – 7 March 2007 – Cholestatic patients suffer from high perioperative morbidity and mortality, but the pathophysiology is still unknown. Interferon γ (IFN‐γ) may play a role during cholestasis. Therefore, bile duct ligation (BDL) was induced in IFN‐γ α‐chain receptor—deficient (IFN‐γR1—/—) and wild‐type (IFN‐γR1+/+) mice. BDL elicited increased IFN‐γ messenger RNA and protein levels in the liver.

Massimo Pilli, Amalia Penna, Alessandro Zerbini, Paolo Vescovi, Maddalena Manfredi, Francesco Negro, Marco Carrozzo, Cristina Mori, Tiziana Giuberti, Carlo Ferrari, Gabriele Missale – 7 March 2007 – Hepatitis C virus infection can be associated with different extrahepatic manifestations, including lichen planus; however, no clear role for HCV in their pathogenesis has been established. T cells were isolated from lichen biopsy specimens of 7 HCV positive patients with oral lichen planus.