Intrahepatic hepatitis C virus–specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity and response to interferon alfa therapy in chronic hepatitis C

David R. Nelson, Constantine G. Marousis, Tomoyoshi Ohno, Gary L. Davis, Johnson Y.N. Lau – 30 December 2003 – Hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) have been shown to play a role in host defense and pathogenesis of chronic HCV infection. Our aim was to test the hypothesis that intrahepatic HCV‐specific CTL activity may impact subsequent response to interferon alfa (IFN‐α) therapy.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Rin Yamaguchi, Hirohisa Yano, Akihiro Iemura, Sachiko Ogasawara, Makoto Haramaki, Masamichi Kojiro – 30 December 2003 – Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is thought to take an important role in tumor angiogenesis. The present study examined VEGF expression immunohistochemically in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) in various histological grades and sizes. In HCCs that were composed of cancerous tissues of single histological grade, VEGF expression was the highest in well‐differentiated HCCs, followed by moderately differentiated HCCs, and then poorly differentiated HCCs.

What strategy should be used for diagnosis of hepatitis C virus infection in clinical laboratories?

Jean‐Michel Pawlotsky, Isabelle Lonjon, Christophe Hezode, Bruno Raynard, Francoise Darthuy, Jocelyne Remire, Claude‐James Soussy, Daniel Dhumeaux – 30 December 2003 – The aim of this study was to determine a cost‐effective strategy for the diagnosis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in clinical laboratories. Anti‐HCV antibodies were sought in 3,014 consecutive unselected samples with two different enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). An immunoblot‐based confirmatory assay (RIBA3.0) was performed in the samples with at least one ELISA positive or weakly positive.

Fas‐mediated apoptosis in mouse hepatocytes involves the processing and activation of caspases

Richard A. Jones, Victoria L. Johnson, Neil R. Buck, Miloslav Dobrota, Richard H. Hinton, Sek C. Chow, George E. Kass – 30 December 2003 – The mechanism of Fas antigen‐induced hepatocyte apoptosis was investigated. Using a monoclonal antibody directed against the Fas antigen, apoptosis was induced in freshly isolated murine hepatocytes within 90 minutes of antibody addition as assessed by plasma membrane bleb formation, chromatin condensation, and DNA fragmentation.

Complement‐mediated cytotoxicity and inhibition of ligand binding to hepatocytes by woodchuck hepatitis virus–induced autoantibodies to asialoglycoprotein receptor

Jingyu Diao, Norma D. Churchill, Tomasz I. Michalak – 30 December 2003 – Hepadnavirus invasion in woodchucks has been identified as a potent inducer of autoantibodies against asialoglycoprotein receptor (anti‐ASGPR), a molecule essentially unique to hepatocytes that mediate clearance of desialylated serum proteins.

Analysis of the expression pattern of the latent transforming growth factor β binding protein isoforms in normal and diseased human liver reveals a new splice variant missing the proteinase‐sensitive hinge region

Kristin Michel, Sylke Roth, Christian Trautwein, WenRong Gong, P. Flemming, Axel M. Gressner – 30 December 2003 – Latent transforming growth factor β binding protein (LTBP), a component of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of various tissues, is important for the secretion of TGF‐β and, furthermore, for the storage of TGF‐β in ECM. The proteolytic cleavage of LTBP is assumed to be the prerequisite for the activation of TGF‐β.

Risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma and its incidence after interferon treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Akinori Kasahara, Norio Hayashi, Kiyoshi Mochizuki, Masahide Takayanagi, Kentaro Yoshioka, Shinichi Kakumu, Akihiro Iijima, Akihiko Urushihara, Kendo Kiyosawa, Michiari Okuda, Keisuke Hino, Kiwamu Okita, Osaka Liver Disease Study Group – 30 December 2003 – To elucidate the risk factors for liver carcinogenesis and to examine the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after interferon therapy, 1,022 chronic hepatitis C patients treated with interferon were followed by ultrasonography for 13 to 97 months (median 36 months).

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