Tracking Fenestrae Dynamics in Live Murine Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells

Bartlomiej Zapotoczny, Karolina Szafranska, Edyta Kus, Filip Braet, Eddie Wisse, Stefan Chlopicki, Marek Szymonski – 23 August 2018 – The fenestrae of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) allow passive transport of solutes, macromolecules, and particulate material between the sinusoidal lumen and the liver parenchymal cells. Until recently, fenestrae and fenestrae‐associated structures were mainly investigated using electron microscopy on chemically fixed LSECs. Hence, the knowledge about their dynamic properties has remained to date largely elusive.

Effects of Endotoxin on Type 3 Inositol 1,4,5‐Trisphosphate Receptor in Human Cholangiocytes

Andressa Franca, Antonio Carlos Melo Lima Filho, Mateus T. Guerra, Jittima Weerachayaphorn, Marcone Loiola dos Santos, Basile Njei, Marie Robert, Cristiano Xavier Lima, Paula Vieira Teixeira Vidigal, Jesus M. Banales, Meenakshisundaram Ananthanarayanan, M. Fatima Leite, Michael H. Nathanson – 23 August 2018 – Clinical conditions that result in endotoxemia, such as sepsis and alcoholic hepatitis (AH), often are accompanied by cholestasis.

mTOR Signaling in X/A‐Like Cells Contributes to Lipid Homeostasis in Mice

Ziru Li, Ruili Yu, Wenzhen Yin, Yan Qin, Liangxiao Ma, Michael Mulholland, Weizhen Zhang – 23 August 2018 – Gastric mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling is inversely associated with the expression and secretion of ghrelin, a 28‐aa peptide hormone produced by gastric X/A‐like cells. Ghrelin contributes to obesity and hepatic steatosis. We sought to control global lipid metabolism via the manipulation of gastric mTOR signaling in X/A‐like cells. We established a ghrl‐cre transgene in which the Cre enzyme is expressed in X/A‐like cells under the control of the ghrelin‐promoter.

Serum Autotaxin Concentrations Reflect Changes in Liver Stiffness and Fibrosis After Antiviral Therapy in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

Wataru Ando, Hiroaki Yokomori, Fumihiko Kaneko, Mana Kaneko, Koji Igarashi, Hidekazu Suzuki – 23 August 2018 – The purpose of this study was to determine whether serum autotaxin concentrations reflect liver stiffness in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) treated with direct‐acting antiviral agents. Adult patients with chronic HCV were enrolled from January 2016 to August 2017. Autotaxin concentrations in these patients were compared with those of a control group consisting of healthy individuals. Liver stiffness was determined by transient elastography.

Survey of Liver Transplantation Practices for Severe Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis

Saroja Bangaru, Mark R. Pedersen, Malcolm P. MacConmara, Amit G. Singal, Arjmand R. Mufti – 23 August 2018 – Liver transplantation (LT) has a demonstrated survival benefit in select patients with severe acute alcoholic hepatitis (SAH) who do not respond to steroids, but prior studies suggest low adoption among US LT centers. Our study explored current perceptions and practice patterns of LT for SAH in the United States. We administered a Web‐based survey to medical directors of US LT centers between May and October of 2017 to characterize practice patterns and perceptions of LT for SAH.

Serum Angiopoietin‐2 Predicts Mortality and Kidney Outcomes in Decompensated Cirrhosis

Andrew S. Allegretti, Xavier Vela Parada, Guillermo A. Ortiz, Joshua Long, Scott Krinsky, Sophia Zhao, Bryan C. Fuchs, Mozhdeh Sojoodi, Dongsheng Zhang, S. Ananth Karumanchi, Sahir Kalim, Sagar U. Nigwekar, Ravi I. Thadhani, Samir M. Parikh, Raymond T. Chung – 23 August 2018 – Acute kidney injury in decompensated cirrhosis has limited therapeutic options, and novel mechanistic targets are urgently needed. Angiopoietin‐2 is a context‐specific antagonist of Tie2, a receptor that signals vascular quiescence.

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