γ‐Glutamyl transpeptidase overexpression increases metastatic growth of B16 melanoma cells in the mouse liver

Elena Obrador, Julian Carretero, Angel Ortega, Ignacio Medina, Vicente Rodilla, José A. Pellicer, José M. Estrela – 30 December 2003 – B16 melanoma (B16M) cells with high glutathione (GSH) content show rapid proliferation in vitro and high metastatic activity in the liver in vivo. γ‐Glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT)‐mediated extracellular GSH cleavage and intracellular GSH synthesis were studied in vitro in B16M cells with high (F10) and low (F1) metastatic potential. GGT activity was modified by transfection with the human GGT gene (B16MF1/Tet‐GGT cells) or by acivicin‐induced inhibition.

Bacterial infections in cirrhosis: Epidemiological changes with invasive procedures and norfloxacin prophylaxis

Javier Fernández, Miquel Navasa, Juliá Gómez, Jordi Colmenero, Jordi Vila, Vicente Arroyo, Juan Rodés – 30 December 2003 – The extensive use of invasive procedures and of long‐term norfloxacin prophylaxis in the management of cirrhotic patients may have influenced the epidemiology of bacterial infections in cirrhosis. We conducted a prospective evaluation of all bacterial infections diagnosed in patients with cirrhosis in a Liver Unit between April 1998 and April 2000. A total of 405 patients presented 572 bacterial infections in 507 admissions.

Immunohistologic study on the expressions of α‐fetoprotein and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II in surgically resected small hepatocellular carcinoma

Miwako Fujioka, Yutaka Nakashima, Osamu Nakashima, Masamichi Kojiro – 30 December 2003 – Sixty‐eight cases of single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with less than 3 cm of diameter were immunohistochemically examined for the expressions of α‐fetoprotein (AFP) and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA‐II). In cancerous tissues, the expression rate was significantly higher for PIVKA‐II (34 cases [50%]) than AFP (21 cases [31%]) (P < .05), suggesting a higher specificity of PIVKA‐II to small HCC.

Effective treatment of small murine hepatocellular carcinoma by dendritic cells

Wei‐Chen Lee, Hui‐Chuan Wang, Long‐Bin Jeng, Yang‐Jen Chiang, Chen‐Rong Lia, Pei‐Fang Huang, Miin‐Fu Chen, Shiguang Qian, Lina Lu – 30 December 2003 – Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy with a poor prognosis. This investigation examined whether dendritic cell–based immunotherapy can treat murine HCC effectively. Bone marrow–derived dendritic cells were propagated from C57BL/10J mice in GM‐CSF (4 ng/mL) and interleukin (IL)‐4 (1,000 μ/mL). The dendritic cells were pulsed with a Hepa1‐6 lysate overnight and employed to treat murine HCC.

High glucose and hyperinsulinemia stimulate connective tissue growth factor expression: A potential mechanism involved in progression to fibrosis in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Valerie Paradis, Gabriel Perlemuter, Franck Bonvoust, Delphine Dargere, Beatrice Parfait, Michel Vidaud, Marc Conti, Stephane Huet, Nathalie Ba, Catherine Buffet, Pierre Bedossa – 30 December 2003 – Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) may progress to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Mechanisms directly involved in the development of fibrosis have been poorly investigated.

Oxidized low‐density lipoproteins bind to the scavenger receptor, CD36, of hepatic stellate cells and stimulate extracellular matrix synthesis

Wilhelm Schneiderhan, Alexandra Schmid‐Kotsas, Jinshun Zhao, Adolf Grünert, Andreas Nüssler, Hans Weidenbach, Andre Menke, Roland M. Schmid, Guido Adler, Max G. Bachem – 30 December 2003 – Cumulating evidence suggests that oxidative stress resulting in lipid peroxidation and protein modification is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic liver injury and fibrogenesis. We investigated the effects of oxidized low‐density lipoproteins (oxLDL) on collagen and fibronectin synthesis of cultured human and rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC).

Subscribe to