Fibroblast growth factor signaling in liver carcinogenesis

Dalbir S. Sandhu, Esha Baichoo, Lewis R. Roberts – 12 August 2013 – Fibroblast growth factors, or FGFs, are a large family of polypeptide cytokines exhibiting a pleiotropy of functions, from cell growth to angiogenesis, wound healing, and tissue repair. This review broadly covers the genetics and protein expression of the FGF family members and the signaling pathways involved in FGF‐mediated growth regulation. We emphasize the role of FGFs in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), including their effects on regulation of the tumor microenvironment and angiogenesis.

Fibroblast growth factor signaling in liver carcinogenesis

Dalbir S. Sandhu, Esha Baichoo, Lewis R. Roberts – 12 August 2013 – Fibroblast growth factors, or FGFs, are a large family of polypeptide cytokines exhibiting a pleiotropy of functions, from cell growth to angiogenesis, wound healing, and tissue repair. This review broadly covers the genetics and protein expression of the FGF family members and the signaling pathways involved in FGF‐mediated growth regulation. We emphasize the role of FGFs in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), including their effects on regulation of the tumor microenvironment and angiogenesis.

Structure‐guided design affirms inhibitors of hepatitis C virus p7 as a viable class of antivirals targeting virion release

Toshana L. Foster, Gary S. Thompson, Arnout P. Kalverda, Jayakanth Kankanala, Matthew Bentham, Laura F. Wetherill, Joseph Thompson, Amy M. Barker, Dean Clarke, Marko Noerenberg, Arwen R. Pearson, David J. Rowlands, Steven W. Homans, Mark Harris, Richard Foster, Stephen Griffin – 12 August 2013 – Current interferon‐based therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is inadequate, prompting a shift toward combinations of direct‐acting antivirals (DAA) with the first protease‐targeted drugs licensed in 2012.

Mesenchymal stem cells alleviate bacteria‐induced liver injury in mice by inducing regulatory dendritic cells

Yi Zhang, Wei Cai, Qingrong Huang, Yuting Gu, Yufang Shi, Jiefang Huang, Fang Zhao, Qiang Liu, Xunbin Wei, Min Jin, Changping Wu, Qing Xie, Yi Zhang, Bing Wan, Yanyun Zhang – 8 August 2013 – Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) is a clinical syndrome characterized by sudden and severe impairment of liver function. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been proposed as a promising therapeutic approach for FHF. In this study we used Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes)‐primed, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced liver injury in mice as an animal model of human FHF.

Antismooth muscle and antiactin antibodies are indirect markers of histological and biochemical activity of autoimmune hepatitis

Claudia A. Couto, Paulo L. Bittencourt, Gilda Porta, Clarice P. Abrantes‐Lemos, Flair J. Carrilho, Bianca D. Guardia, Eduardo L.R. Cançado – 8 August 2013 – Reactivity and titers of autoantibodies vary during the course of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), and some autoantibodies have been associated with disease activity and adverse outcomes after treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the autoantibody behavior in AIH and its significance as predictors of biochemical and histological remission.

Maelstrom promotes hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis by inducing epithelial‐mesenchymal transition by way of Akt/GSK‐3β/Snail signaling

Lulu Liu, Yongdong Dai, Jinna Chen, Tingting Zeng, Yan Li, Leilei Chen, Ying‐Hui Zhu, Jiangchao Li, Yan Li, Stephanie Ma, Dan Xie, Yun‐Fei Yuan, Xin‐Yuan Guan – 8 August 2013 – Amplification of 1q is one of the most frequent chromosomal alterations in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study we identified and characterized a novel oncogene, Maelstrom (MAEL), at 1q24. Amplification and overexpression of MAEL was frequently detected in HCCs and significantly associated with HCC recurrence (P = 0.031) and poor outcome (P = 0.001).

Subscribe to