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.

Feng Zhou, Maureen N. Ajuebor, Paul L. Beck, Tai Le, Cory M. Hogaboam, Mark G. Swain – 15 July 2005 – The CD154–CD40 interaction is a critical costimulatory pathway modulating the cellular immune response. Moreover, fulminant hepatitis of various etiologies is characterized by a hepatic influx of CD154‐expressing T cells and an upregulation of CD40 expression on Kupffer cells and hepatocytes, implicating this pathway in the pathogenesis of fulminant hepatitis.

15 July 2005

Claudio E. Lagoa, Yoram Vodovotz, Donna B. Stolz, Franck Lhuillier, Carol McCloskey, David Gallo, Runkuan Yang, Elena Ustinova, Mitchell P. Fink, Timothy R. Billiar, Wendy M. Mars – 15 July 2005 – Hemorrhagic shock (HS) followed by resuscitation (HS‐R) is characterized by profound physiological changes. Even if the patient survives the initial blood loss, these poorly understood changes can lead to morbidity. One of the tissues most often affected is liver. We sought to recognize specific hepatic changes induced by this stressor to identify targets for therapeutic intervention.