Critical involvement of interferon γ in the pathogenesis of T‐cell activation‐associated hepatitis and regulatory mechanisms of interleukin‐6 for the manifestations of hepatitis

H Mizuhara, M Uno, N Seki, M Yamashita, M Yamaoka, T Ogawa, K Kaneda, T Fujii, H Senoh, H Fujiwara – 1 June 1996 – A single intravenous injection of concanavalin A (Con A) induces T‐cell activation and an acute hepatitis in mice. This study investigated the role of interferon γ (IFN‐γ) in the pathogenesis of this hepatitis model. Striking increases in the plasma levels of various cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin‐2 (IL‐2), and IFN‐γ, were detected before the increase in plasma aminotransferase levels induced by Con A injection.

Effects of ethanol administration on components of the ubiquitin proteolytic pathway in rat liver

L J Born, K K Kharbanda, D L McVicker, R K Zetterman, T M Donohue – 1 June 1996 – Hepatic protein accumulation during ethanol administration may result partly from an ethanol‐elicited decline in hepatic protein degradation, which we have previously shown. We conducted the current studies to examine the effects of ethanol administration on the levels of hepatic ubiquitin, an 8.5‐kd protein which is an important mediator of extralysosomal protein catabolism. Rats were pair‐fed liquid diets containing either ethanol (36% of calories) or isocaloric maltose‐dextrin for 1 to 5 weeks.

Hepatic expression of hepatitis C virus RNA in chronic hepatitis C: A study by in situ reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction

G K Lau, G L Davis, S P Wu, R G Gish, L A Balart, J Y Lau – 1 June 1996 – Hepatitis C virus (HCV) replicates at a low rate and this makes its detection and intrahepatic localization difficult. To evaluate the clinical implications and effect of interferon alfa (IFN‐α) therapy on hepatic expression of HCV RNA, HCV RNA was detected by in situ reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (IS‐RT‐PCR) in formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded liver sections from 26 patients with chronic hepatitis C. Results were compared with RT‐PCR of HCV RNA extracted from liver sections/tissue.

Effect of tumor necrosis factor α on intrahepatic bile duct epithelial cell of rat liver

Y Mano, M Ishii, H Okamoto, T Igarashi, K Kobayashi, T Toyota – 1 June 1996 – Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α), which is primarily produced by macrophages, is a cytokine with various biological activities. Macrophage infiltration often accompanies experimental cholangitis in rats, and chronic cholangitis in humans. The pathophysiologic significance of TNF‐α in cholangitis is not known. We used cultured, polarized intrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells (IBDECs) from rat liver to determine whether TNF‐α directly affects the organization of IBDEC monolayers.

Expression of epithelial cadherin and α‐ and β‐catenins in nontumoral livers and hepatocellular carcinomas

A Ihara, H Koizumi, R Hashizume, T Uchikoshi – 1 June 1996 – Expression of the cell adhesion molecule, epithelial cadherin (E‐CD) and its binding proteins, α‐ and β‐catenins, in normal liver, chronic liver diseases, and hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) was investigated immunohistologically. In normal liver, weak immunostaining of E‐CD and catenins was observed at the lateral membranes of the hepatocytes, whereas at the interlobular bile duct epithelia, they stained strongly. No immunoreactions were seen in sinusoidal Kupffer cells.

High plasma levels of von Willebrand factor as a marker of endothelial perturbation in cirrhosis: Relationship to endotoxemia

D Ferro, C Quintarelli, A Lattuada, R Leo, M Alessandroni, P M Mannucci, F Violi – 1 June 1996 – The aim of this study was to evaluate whether there is endothelial dysfunction in patients with cirrhosis and to detect the mechanism that may account for it.

Subscribe to