S‐adenosylhomocysteine sensitizes to TNF‐α hepatotoxicity in mice and liver cells: A possible etiological factor in alcoholic liver disease

Zhenyuan Song, Zhanxiang Zhou, Silvia Uriarte, Lipeng Wang, Y. James Kang, Theresa Chen, Shirish Barve, Craig J. McClain – 7 March 2007 – In alcoholic liver disease, tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNFα) is a critical effector molecule, and abnormal methionine metabolism is a fundamental acquired metabolic abnormality. Although hepatocytes are resistant to TNFα‐induced killing under normal circumstances, previous studies have shown that primary hepatocytes from rats chronically fed alcohol have increased TNFα cytotoxicity.

T2 hyperintensity along the cortico‐spinal tract in cirrhosis relates to functional abnormalities

Juan Córdoba, Nuria Raguer, Montserrat Flavià, Víctor Vargas, Carlos Jacas, Juli Alonso, Alex Rovira – 7 March 2007 – Magnetic resonance has shown T2 hyperintensity along the cortico‐spinal tract in the brain of cirrhotic patients. This abnormality, which is reversible after liver transplantation, appears to correspond to mild edema. Because astrocytic edema present in hepatic encephalopathy may be responsible for neuronal dysfunction, we studied whether T2 hyperintensity along the cortico‐spinal tract may relate to functional abnormalities.

Induction or expansion of T‐cell responses by a hepatitis B DNA vaccine administered to chronic HBV carriers

Maryline Mancini‐Bourgine, Hélène Fontaine, Daniel Scott‐Algara, Stanislas Pol, Christian Bréchot, Marie‐Louise Michel – 7 March 2007 – Despite the availability of effective hepatitis B vaccines for many years, over 370 million people remain persistently infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Viral persistence is thought to be related to poor HBV‐specific T‐cell responses. A phase I clinical trial was performed in chronic HBV carriers to investigate whether HBV DNA vaccination could restore T‐cell responsiveness.

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