HFE C282Y mutations are associated with advanced hepatic fibrosis in Caucasians with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

James E. Nelson, Renuka Bhattacharya, Keith D. Lindor, Naga Chalasani, Stuart Raaka, E. Jenny Heathcote, Emil Miskovsky, Eldon Shaffer, Stephen J. Rulyak, Kris V. Kowdley – 24 August 2007 – Previous studies examining the relationship between HFE mutations and severity of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) have been limited by small sample size or ascertainment bias. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between HFE mutations and histological severity in a large North American multicenter cohort with NASH.

Receptor‐mediated endocytosis of immune complexes in rat liver sinusoidal endothelial cells is mediated by FcγRIIb2

Seyed Ali Mousavi, Marita Sporstøl, Cathrine Fladeby, Rune Kjeken, Nicolas Barois, Trond Berg – 24 August 2007 – Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) display a number of receptors for efficient uptake of potentially injurious molecules. The receptors for the Fc portion of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies (FcγRs) regulate a number of physiological and pathophysiological events. We used reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and Western blotting to determine the expression of different types of FcγRs in LSECs.

Sustained disease remission after spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion is associated with reduction in fibrosis progression in chronic hepatitis B Chinese patients

Chee‐Kin Hui, Nancy Leung, Tony W.H. Shek, Hung Yao, Wai‐Ki Lee, Jak‐Yiu Lai, Sik‐To Lai, Wai‐Man Wong, Lawrence SW. Lai, Ronnie T.P. Poon, Chung‐Mau Lo, Sheung‐Tat Fan, George K.K. Lau, Hong Kong Liver Fibrosis Study Group – 24 August 2007 – Recently, controversies have arisen about whether hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion can result in regression of fibrosis, thus improving the clinical outcome of Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Fate of extrahepatic human stem and precursor cells after transplantation into mouse livers

Marc Brulport, Wiebke Schormann, Alexander Bauer, Matthias Hermes, Carolin Elsner, Friedrich Jakob Hammersen, Walter Beerheide, Dimitry Spitkovsky, Wolfgang Härtig, Andreas Nussler, Lars Christian Horn, Jeanett Edelmann, Oliver Pelz‐Ackermann, Jörg Petersen, Manja Kamprad, Marc von Mach, Amelie Lupp, Henryk Zulewski, Jan G. Hengstler – 24 August 2007 – In recent years, a large number of groups studied the fate of human stem cells in livers of immunodeficient animals. However, the interpretation of the results is quite controversial.

Differences between Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic patients with primary biliary cirrhosis in the United States

Marion G. Peters, Adrian M. Di Bisceglie, Kris V. Kowdley, Nancy L. Flye, Velimir A. Luketic, Santiago J. Munoz, Guadalupe Garcia‐Tsao, Thomas D. Boyer, John R. Lake, Maurizio Bonacini, Burton Combes, PUMPS Group – 24 August 2007 – Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an uncommon chronic cholestatic liver disease that primarily afflicts young and middle‐aged Caucasian women; there are limited data on the clinical presentation and disease severity among non‐Caucasian patients with this disease.

Pancreatic and duodenal homeobox gene 1 induces hepatic dedifferentiation by suppressing the expression of CCAAT/enhancer‐binding protein β

Irit Meivar‐Levy, Tamar Sapir, Shiraz Gefen‐Halevi, Vered Aviv, Iris Barshack, Nicholas Onaca, Eytan Mor, Sarah Ferber – 24 August 2007 – It is believed that adult tissues in mammals lack the plasticity needed to assume new developmental fates because of the absence of efficient pathways of dedifferentiation.

Identification of a novel class of dithiolethiones that prevent hepatic insulin resistance via the adenosine monophosphate–activated protein kinase–p70 ribosomal S6 kinase‐1 pathway

Eun Ju Bae, Yoon Mee Yang, Jin Wan Kim, Sang Geon Kim – 24 August 2007 – Several established liver diseases of various causes are highly associated with hepatic insulin resistance, which is characterized by the desensitization of target cells to insulin. Peripheral insulin resistance is observed in most patients who have cirrhosis. Conversely, insulin‐resistant diabetic patients are at increased risk for developing liver disease. Current therapeutic interventions in insulin resistance are limited and therefore likely to be advanced by new tailor‐made drugs.

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