Xupeng Ge, Mehmet Uzunel, Bo‐Göran Ericzon, Suchitra Sumitran‐Holgersson – 20 July 2005 – Studies to determine the role of preformed antibodies to biliary epithelial cells (BECs) in liver transplant rejections have been initiated. However, the clinical importance of these antibodies in the posttransplantation period still remains to be elucidated. Reactivity to BECs isolated from a normal healthy liver was investigated in sera of 56 patients before and after liver transplantation (LTX) using flow cytometry.

Alessandro Franchello, Valeria Ghisetti, Alfredo Marzano, Renato Romagnoli, Mauro Salizzoni – 20 July 2005 – The scarcity of liver donors requires consideration of grafts from sources not previously used. Allografts from hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)‐carriers without a significant liver disease have been proposed for liver transplant recipients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐related cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Mostafa K. Mohamed, Mohamed Abdel‐Hamid, Nabiel N. Mikhail, Fatma Abdel‐Aziz, Ahmed Medhat, Laurence S. Magder, Alan D. Fix, G. Thomas Strickland – 19 July 2005 – The incidence of hepatitis C (HCV) infection and associated risk factors were prospectively assessed in a cohort of 6,734 Egyptians from 2 rural villages who were negative for antibodies to HCV (anti‐HCV). Initial and follow‐up sera were tested for anti‐HCV by enzyme immunoassay (EIA), and possible incident cases were confirmed by using the microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) and tested for HCV RNA.

Andy Wullaert, Ben Wielockx, Sofie Van Huffel, Veerle Bogaert, Bart De Geest, Peggy Papeleu, Peter Schotte, Karim El Bakkouri, Karen Heyninck, Claude Libert, Rudi Beyaert – 15 July 2005 – Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays a central role in acute and chronic hepatitis B and C infection and alcoholic liver disease as well as fulminant liver failure. TNF‐induced liver failure is characterized by parenchymal cell apoptosis and inflammation leading to liver cell necrosis.

Christine Rösler, Josef Köck, Michael Kann, Michael H. Malim, Hubert E. Blum, Thomas F. Baumert, Fritz von Weizsäcker – 15 July 2005 – APOBEC3G is a cellular cytidine deaminase displaying broad antiretroviral activity. Recently, it was shown that APOBEC3G can also suppress hepatitis B virus (HBV) production in human hepatoma cells. In the present study, we characterized the mechanisms of APOBEC‐mediated antiviral activity against HBV and related hepadnaviruses. We show that human APOBEC3G blocks HBV production in mammalian and nonmammalian cells and is active against duck HBV as well.

Ewan Forrest, Saket Singhal, Geoffrey Haydon, Christopher Day, Neil Fisher, Alison Brind, Peter Hayes – 15 July 2005

Michelle Embree‐Ku, Philip A. Gruppuso – 15 July 2005 – During the last 3 days of fetal development in the rodent, a burst of hepatocyte proliferation results in a tripling of liver size. Despite stimulation of mitogenesis via multiple signaling pathways, including some that are considered stress response pathways, little apoptosis accompanies this cell growth.

Saul J. Karpen – 15 July 2005

Carla W. Brady, Andrew J. Muir – 15 July 2005

Steven C. Katz, Venu G. Pillarisetty, Joshua I. Bleier, T. Peter Kingham, Umer I. Chaudhry, Alaap B. Shah, Ronald P. DeMatteo – 15 July 2005 – The contribution of intrahepatic conventional T cells to the unique immunologic properties of the liver has not been clearly defined. We isolated bulk and CD4 T cells from mouse liver and compared their functions with each other and with their splenic counterparts. Unlike bulk spleen T cells, bulk liver T cells reacted minimally to allogeneic or antigen‐loaded syngeneic dendritic cells.