Mike A. Leonis, Kenya Toney‐Earley, Sandra J. F. Degen, Susan E. Waltz – 30 December 2003 – The targeted deletion of the cytoplasmic domain of the Ron receptor tyrosine kinase (TK) in mice leads to exaggerated responses to injury in several murine models of inflammation as well as increased lethality in response to endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]). Using a well‐characterized model of LPS‐induced acute liver failure (ALF) in galactosamine (GalN)‐sensitized mice, we show that Ron TK−/− mice display marked protection compared with control Ron TK+/+ mice.

Patrick Marcellin, Tarik Asselah, Nathalie Boyer – 30 December 2003 – The progression of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C determines the ultimate prognosis and thus the need and urgency of therapy. Fibrogenesis is a complex dynamic process, which is mediated by necroinflammation and activation of stellate cells. The liver biopsy remains the gold standard to assess fibrosis. Scoring systems allow a semiquantitative assessment and are useful for cross‐sectional and cohort studies and in treatment trials. The rate at which fibrosis progresses varies markedly between patients.

Francesco Negro – 30 December 2003

Ming Qiao, Kazumoto Murata, Anthony R. Davis, Sook‐Hyang Jeong, T. Jake Liang – 30 December 2003 – We have previously described the generation of hepatitis C virus–like particles (HCV‐LPs) in insect cells and shown that immunization with HCV‐LPs elicited both humoral and cellular immune responses in mice. To further characterize the HCV‐LPs as a vaccine candidate, we evaluated the effects of adjuvant AS01B (monophosphoryl lipid A [MPL] and QS21), CpG 10105, and the combination of the 2 adjuvants on the immunogenicity of HCV‐LPs in AAD mice (transgenic for HLA‐A2.1).

Ivan Borbath, Yves Horsmans – 30 December 2003

Paul J. Gow, Siddharth Sood, Peter W. Angus – 30 December 2003

Lia Bellis, Annalisa Berzigotti, Juan G. Abraldes, Eduardo Moitinho, Juan C. García‐Pagán, Jaime Bosch, Juan Rodés – 30 December 2003 – Postprandial hyperemia is associated with a significant increase in portal pressure in cirrhosis, which may contribute to progressive dilation and rupture of gastroesophageal varices. In cirrhosis, an insufficient hepatic production of nitric oxide (NO) may impair the expected hepatic vasodilatory response to increased blood flow, further exaggerating the postprandial increase in portal pressure.

Xiu‐Da Shen, Bibo Ke, Yuan Zhai, Feng Gao, Dean Anselmo, Charles R. Lassman, Ronald W. Busuttil, Jerzy W. Kupiec‐Weglinski – 30 December 2003 – Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury remains an important problem in clinical organ transplantation. There is growing evidence that T lymphocytes, and activated CD4+ T cells in particular, play a key role in hepatic I/R injury. This study analyzes the role of signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (Stat4) and Stat6 signaling in liver I/R injury.

G. Aravinda Upadhya, Stefan A. Topp, Richard S. Hotchkiss, John Anagli, Steven M. Strasberg – 30 December 2003 – This study was performed to determine the role of intracellular calcium concentration and calpain activity on the cellular events that occur in rat sinusoidal endothelial cells (SEC) in the cold. Intracellular calcium concentrations were measured in isolated cold preserved rat SEC. Dantrolene or 1,2‐bis(o‐Aminophenoxy)ethane‐N,N,N′,N′‐tetraacetic acid tetra(acetoxymethyl) ester (BAPTA‐AM) was added in some studies.

Min Kyung Cho, Sang Geon Kim – 30 December 2003 – Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a ligand of c‐Met receptor, stimulates activation of cellular kinases via phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3‐kinase). CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) controls cell cycle progression. The present study was designed to determine whether HGF activates C/EBP in association with the S‐phase entrance for cell replication and whether PI3‐kinase contributes to the activation of C/EBP.