AMA production in primary biliary cirrhosis is promoted by the TLR9 ligand CpG and suppressed by potassium channel blockers

Yuki Moritoki, Zhe‐Xiong Lian, Heike Wulff, Guo‐Xiang Yang, Ya‐Hui Chuang, Ruth Y. Lan, Yoshiyuki Ueno, Aftab A. Ansari, Ross L. Coppel, Ian R. Mackay, M. Eric Gershwin – 26 January 2007 – We previously reported that peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) produce significantly higher levels of polyclonal IgM than controls after exposure to CpG. Furthermore, the prevalence and unusually high levels of antimitochondrial antibodies (AMAs) in patients with PBC suggest a profound loss of B cell tolerance.

A genomewide DNA microsatellite association study of Japanese patients with autoimmune hepatitis type 1

Shuichi Yokosawa, Kaname Yoshizawa, Masao Ota, Yoshihiko Katsuyama, Shigeyuki Kawa, Tetsuya Ichijo, Takeji Umemura, Eiji Tanaka, Kendo Kiyosawa – 26 January 2007 – Genetic predisposition to type 1 autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is linked mainly to HLA class II genes. We previously searched the whole HLA region for AIH susceptibility genes using microsatellite markers and found only HLA‐DR/DQ to be a candidate region for this suspected multifactorial disease.

A randomized controlled trial of licartin for preventing hepatoma recurrence after liver transplantation

Jing Xu, Zhong‐Yang Shen, Xin‐Guo Chen, Qing Zhang, Hui‐Jie Bian, Ping Zhu, Hui‐Yun Xu, Fei Song, Xiang‐Min Yang, Li Mi, Qing‐Chuan Zhao, Rong Tian, Qiang Feng, Si‐He Zhang, Yu Li, Jian‐Li Jiang, Ling Li, Xiao‐Ling Yu, Zheng Zhang, Zhi‐Nan Chen – 26 January 2007 – Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is the only curative therapy of HCC with underlying cirrhosis, but due to HCC metastasis and recurrence, its benefit is limited to a small population who meet the strict selection criteria.

IL‐10, regulatory T cells, and Kupffer cells mediate tolerance in concanavalin A–induced liver injury in mice

Annette Erhardt, Markus Biburger, Thomas Papadopoulos, Gisa Tiegs – 26 January 2007 – The liver appears to play an important role in immunological tolerance, for example, during allo‐transplantation. We investigated tolerance mechanisms in the model of concanavalin A (ConA)‐induced immune‐mediated liver injury in mice. We found that a single injection of a sublethal ConA dose to C57BL/6 mice induced tolerance toward ConA‐induced liver damage within 8 days. This tolerogenic state was characterized by suppression of the typical Th1 response in this model and increased IL‐10 production.

Dental health status of liver transplant candidates

James Guggenheimer, Bijan Eghtesad, John M. Close, Christine Shay, John J. Fung – 26 January 2007 – A prerequisite dental evaluation is usually recommended for potential organ transplant candidates. This is based on the premise that untreated dental disease may pose a risk for infection and sepsis, although there is no evidence that this has occurred in organ transplant candidates or recipients. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of dental disease and oral health behaviors in a sample of liver transplant candidates (LTCs).

Continuous versus interrupted suture for end‐to‐end biliary anastomosis during liver transplantation gives equal results

Eric T. Castaldo, C. Wright Pinson, Irene D. Feurer, J. Kelly Wright, D. Lee Gorden, Beau S. Kelly, Ravi S. Chari – 26 January 2007 – Biliary complications following orthotopic liver transplantation have been reported in 10% to 30% of patients. Most surgeons perform an end‐to‐end choledochocholedochostomy with interrupted sutures for biliary reconstruction.

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