p21Ras downstream effectors are increased in activity or expression in mouse liver tumors but do not differ between Ras‐mutated and Ras‐wild‐type lesions

Arno Kalkuhl, Jacob Troppmair, Albrecht Buchmann, Stefan Stinchcombe, Christoph Lars Buenemann, Ulf R. Rapp, Klaus Kaestner, Michael Schwarz – 30 December 2003 – Mouse liver tumors frequently harbor activating ras gene mutations. Downstream effector molecules of p21Ras include Raf‐1 kinase which mediates external signals via kinase signaling pathways to nuclear transcription factors including c‐Fos and c‐Jun. Mouse liver tumors with differing ras‐mutational status were analyzed for alterations in Ras/Raf‐1 signal transduction.

Ethanol up‐regulates fatty acid uptake and plasma membrane expression and export of mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase in HepG2 cells

Sheng‐Li Zhou, Ronald E. Gordon, Michael Bradbury, Decherd Stump, Chih‐Li Kiang, Paul D. Berk – 30 December 2003 – To explain the increased plasma mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase (mAspAT) observed in alcoholics, we cultured HepG2 hepatoma cells in ethanol. Acute (24 hour) exposure to 0, 20, 40, or 80 mmol/L ethanol produced a dose‐dependent (r = .98) increase in mAspAT messenger RNA (mRNA) of ≤ thirteen‐fold, with no significant change in the cellular content of mAspAT or of several other enzymes.

Independent and combined action of hepatitis C virus infection and alcohol consumption on the risk of symptomatic liver cirrhosis

Giovanni Corrao, Sarino Aricò – 30 December 2003 – Although alcohol intake and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are the major determinants of liver cirrhosis (LC) in Western countries, the joint effect of these two factors on LC risk has not yet been adequately studied. We used data from two hospital‐based case‐control studies performed in Italy. Cases were 285 cirrhotic patients admitted for the first time to district hospitals for liver decompensation.

Slow progression rate of fibrosis in hepatitis C virus patients with persistently normal alanine transaminase activity

Philippe Mathurin, Joseph Moussalli, Jean‐François Cadranel, Vincent Thibault, Frédéric Charlotte, Patrice Dumouchel, Alain Cazier, Jean‐Marie Huraux, Bruno Devergie, Michel Vidaud, Pierre Opolon, Thierry Poynard – 30 December 2003 – In hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients with persistently normal alanine transaminase (ALT), the progression rate of fibrosis is unknown.

Inhibition of in vivo rat liver regeneration by 2‐acetylaminofluorene affects the regulation of cell cycle‐related proteins

Lena C. E. Ohlson, Lena Koroxenidou, Inger Porsch Hällström – 30 December 2003 – The effects of dietary 2‐acetylaminofluorene (2‐AAF) on cell cycle‐related proteins was studied in regenerating livers from male Wistar rats. The levels of cyclins, cyclin dependent kinases (cdks), and related proteins were studied at different times during the first cell cycle after partial hepatectomy (PH).

The effect of hepatocyte enlargement on the hemodynamic characteristics of the isolated perfused rat liver preparation

Howard J. Grossman, Virginia L. Grossman, Prithi S. Bhathal – 30 December 2003 – The influence of hepatocyte enlargement on intrahepatic hemodynamics was assessed in the isolated perfused rat liver preparation (IPRL) using two experimental models: hypotonic liver cell swelling and phenobarbitone‐induced hepatocyte hypertrophy.

Role of glutathione in nitric oxide‐dependent regulation of energy metabolism in rat hepatoma cells

Manabu Nishikawa, Eisuke F. Sato, Misato Kashiba, Tetsuo Kuroki, Kozo Utsumi, Masayasu Inoue – 30 December 2003 – Previous studies in this laboratory revealed that nitric oxide (NO) reversibly inhibits the respiration of isolated mitochondria and ascites hepatoma (AH‐130) cells by an oxygen concentration–dependent mechanism. The inhibitory effect of NO on the respiration of AH‐130 cells was enhanced by treating with digitonin that selectively permeabilized plasma membranes and released cytosolic low‐molecular‐weight compounds.

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