Functional impairment of myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells of patients with chronic hepatitis B

Renate G. van der Molen, Dave Sprengers, Rekha S. Binda, Esther C. de Jong, Hubert G. M. Niesters, Johannes G. Kusters, Jaap Kwekkeboom, Harry L. A. Janssen – 30 August 2004 – Dendritic cells (DC) play an important role in the induction of T‐cell responses. We hypothesize that the hampered antiviral T‐cell response in chronic hepatitis B patients is a result of impaired dendritic cell function.

In vitro differentiation of rat liver derived stem cells results in sensitization to TNFα‐mediated apoptosis

Aránzazu Sánchez, Valentina M. Factor, Luis A. Espinoza, Insa S. Schroeder, Snorri S. Thorgeirsson – 30 August 2004 – Hepatic stem cells are activated after liver damage and have a critical role in tissue homeostasis and repair. Characterization of molecular and cellular events accompanying the expansion and differentiation of liver stem cells is essential for understanding the basic biology of stem cells and for facilitating clinical application of the stem cells.

TNF‐α regulates mouse fetal hepatic maturation induced by oncostatin M and extracellular matrices

Akihide Kamiya, Frank J. Gonzalez – 30 August 2004 – Fetal hepatic maturation consists of multisteps and is regulated by several cytokines and cell–cell or cell–matrices interactions. In the mid‐to‐late fetal stage, hepatocytes have few metabolic functions associated with adult liver homeostasis. Cultured fetal hepatocytes acquire the expression of several mature liver‐specific genes through stimulation with hepatic maturation factor oncostatin M (OSM) and matrigel. Tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNFα) regulates fetal hepatic maturation stimulated by OSM and matrigel.

Peroxynitrite alters the catalytic activity of rodent liver proteasome in vitro and in vivo

Natalia A. Osna, James Haorah, Viatcheslav M. Krutik, Terrence M. Donohue – 30 August 2004 – The proteasome is an important multicatalytic enzyme complex that degrades misfolded and oxidized proteins, signal transduction factors, and antigenic peptides for presentation. We investigated the in vitro effects of peroxynitrite (PN) on the peptidase activity of both crude 20S and 26S and purified 20S proteasome preparations from rat liver as well as proteasome activity in Hep G2 cells and in mouse liver.

Mycophenolate mofetil monotherapy in liver transplant recipients: A single center experience

Kyrsten D. Fairbanks, Paul J. Thuluvath – 30 August 2004 – The long‐term use of calcineurin inhibitors (CIs) is associated with significant morbidity in liver transplant recipients. Although mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is well tolerated, two small studies reported an unacceptable rate of acute allograft rejection in liver transplant recipients receiving MMF monotherapy. In this study, we retrospectively investigated the safety and efficacy of MMF monotherapy in liver transplant recipients. We reviewed the medical records of all patients who underwent liver transplant at our institution.

Revisiting liver transplant immunology: From the concept of immune engagement to the dualistic pathway paradigm

Raymond Reding, Hugh F.S. Davies – 30 August 2004 – Ever since the demonstration that allografts are rejected through immune reactions of the host, clinical therapies for organ allografts have relied on immune suppression to prevent these destructive events. A growing body of clinical and experimental data suggests that allografts elicit multiple, interactive immune responses. The result is not inevitably graft rejection, and “spontaneous” acceptance of fully allogeneic liver grafts occurs in rodents without immunosuppression.

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