Ontogeny, distribution, and possible functional implications of an unusual aquaporin, AQP8, in mouse liver

Domenico Ferri, Amelia Mazzone, Giuseppa Esterina Liquori, Grazia Cassano, Maria Svelto, Giuseppe Calamita – 7 March 2007 – Aquaporins are channel proteins widely expressed in nature and known to facilitate the rapid movement of water across numerous cell membranes. A mammalian aquaporin, AQP8, was recently discovered and found to have a very distinct evolutionary pathway. To understand the reason for this divergence, here we define the ontogeny and exact subcellular localization of AQP8 in mouse liver, a representative organ transporting large volumes of water for secretion of bile.

Establishment of a highly efficient gene transfer system for mouse fetal hepatic progenitor cells

Kentaro Yasuchika, Tetsuro Hirose, Hideaki Fujii, Shoshiro Oe, Koichi Hasegawa, Takahisa Fujikawa, Hisaya Azuma, Yoshio Yamaoka – 7 March 2007 – Because of a donor shortage problem in liver transplantation, cell transplantation has been anticipated as a useful bridge or substitute therapy, and has necessitated the development of cell sources other than donated organs. Therefore, the use of fetal hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) is now being focused on.

Gene array analysis and the liver

Nicholas A. Shackel, Mark D. Gorrell, Geoffrey W. McCaughan – 7 March 2007 – Functional genomics methods promise a previously unparalleled high‐throughput examination of intrahepatic gene expression. Profiling transcriptomes as well as examining the coordinate expression of many genes in diverse pathobiologic pathways is now pssible with techniques such as gene array analysis. However, the nature of the hepatic transcriptome, limitations of the functional genomics methokologies used, and analysis of the data generated are often poorly understood.

Quantitative serum HBV DNA levels during different stages of chronic hepatitis B infection

Chi‐Jen Chu, Munira Hussain, Anna S. F. Lok – 7 March 2007 – The goals of this retrospective study were to determine whether there is a threshold hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA value associated with spontaneous or antiviral therapy—related hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) clearance. We also investigated whether there is an HBV DNA value that can be used for differentiating inactive carriers from patients with HBeAg‐negative chronic hepatitis B.

Interleukin 1β inhibits CAR‐induced expression of hepatic genes involved in drug and bilirubin clearance

Eric Assenat, Sabine Gerbal‐Chaloin, Dominique Larrey, Jean Saric, Jean‐Michel Fabre, Patrick Maurel, Marie‐José Vilarem, Jean Marc Pascussi – 7 March 2007 – During the inflammatory response, intrahepatic cholestasis and decreased drug metabolism are frequently observed.

Clinical outcome of HBeAg‐negative chronic hepatitis B in relation to virological response to lamivudine

Dr. Vito Di Marco, Alfredo Marzano, Pietro Lampertico, Pietro Andreone, Teresa Santantonio, Piero Luigi Almasio, Mario Rizzetto, Antonio Craxì – 7 March 2007 – The effect of lamivudine treatment on the outcome of patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐negative chronic hepatitis is unclear. In a retrospective multicenter study, we have analyzed the virological events observed during lamivudine therapy in patients with HBeAg‐negative chronic hepatitis and evaluated the correlation between virological response and clinical outcomes.

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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