Frank Grünhage, Katrin Hochrath, Marcin Krawczyk, Aksana Höblinger, Barbara Obermayer‐Pietsch, Jürgen Geisel, Michael Trauner, Tilman Sauerbruch, Frank Lammert – 10 May 2012 – Recently, genome‐wide studies identified genetic variants that affect serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D levels in healthy populations (rs12785878, near dehydrocholesterol reductase, DHCR7; rs10741657, at CYP2R1; and rs7041, at vitamin D binding protein, GC).

Shuye Zhang, Karen Kodys, Gregory J. Babcock, Gyongyi Szabo – 10 May 2012 – Recognition of hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐infected hepatocyes and interferon (IFN) induction are critical in antiviral immune response. We hypothesized that cell‐cell contact between plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and HCV‐infected cells was required for IFN‐α induction through the involvement of cell‐surface molecules.

Ashwin Woodhoo, Marta Iruarrizaga‐Lejarreta, Naiara Beraza, Juan L García‐Rodríguez, Nieves Embade, David Fernández‐Ramos, Nuria Martínez‐López, Virginia Gutiérrez‐De Juan, Beatriz Arteta, Juan Caballeria, Shelly C Lu, José M Mato, Marta Varela‐Rey, María L Martínez‐Chantar – 10 May 2012 – RNA‐binding proteins (RBPs) play a major role in the control of messenger RNA (mRNA) turnover and translation rates. We examined the role of the RBP, human antigen R (HuR), during cholestatic liver injury and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation.

Johann‐Martin Hempel, Gertrud Greif‐Higer, Thomas Kaufmann, Manfred E. Beutel – 10 May 2012 – Alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC) is a commonly accepted indication for liver transplantation (LT). Any alcohol consumption is considered a contraindication for LT. However, the assessment of abstinence in everyday practice mostly relies on patient self‐reporting, which must be considered highly unreliable. After consumption, ethanol is eliminated by alcohol dehydrogenase, with methanol accumulating in the blood.

Lauren E. Holz, Joo Chun Yoon, Sukanya Raghuraman, Susan Moir, Michael C. Sneller, Barbara Rehermann – 4 May 2012 – Mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) is the most common extrahepatic manifestation of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Although the formation of inflammation‐triggering immune complexes is driven by clonal expansions of autoreactive B cells, we found total B cell numbers paradoxically reduced in HCV‐infected patients with MC.

Karen F. Murray, Leszek Szenborn, Jacek Wysocki, Stephen Rossi, Amoreena C. Corsa, Phillip Dinh, John McHutchison, Phillip S. Pang, Luminita M. Luminos, Malgorzata Pawlowska, Jacek Mizerski – 27 April 2012 – Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (DF) is highly effective for the suppression of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in chronically infected adults. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of tenofovir DF in adolescents with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Erica L. Clinkenbeard, James E. Butler, Brett T. Spear – 27 April 2012 – We previously showed that mouse alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) enhancer 3 activity is highly restricted to pericentral hepatocytes in the adult liver. Here, using transgenic mice, we show that the upstream enhancer of the rat glutamine synthetase gene is also active, specifically in pericentral regions. Activity of both enhancers is lost in the absence of β‐catenin, a key regulator of zonal gene expression in the adult liver.

Yang‐Gun Suh, Ja Kyung Kim, Jin‐Seok Byun, Hyon‐Seung Yi, Young‐Sun Lee, Hyuk Soo Eun, So Yeon Kim, Kwang‐Hyub Han, Kwan Sik Lee, Gregg Duester, Scott L. Friedman, Won‐Il Jeong – 27 April 2012 – Clinical trials and animal models suggest that infusion of bone marrow cells (BMCs) is effective therapy for liver fibrosis, but the underlying mechanisms are obscure, especially those associated with early effects of BMCs. Here, we analyzed the early impact of BMC infusion and identified the subsets of BMCs showing antifibrotic effects in mice with carbon tetrachloride–induced liver fibrosis.

Xiao Qi Wang, Chung Mau Lo, Lin Chen, Cindy K.Y. Cheung, Zhen Fan Yang, Yong Xiong Chen, Michael N. Ng, Wan Ching Yu, Xiaoyan Ming, Wu Zhang, David W.Y. Ho, See Ching Chan, Sheung Tat Fan – 27 April 2012 – Liver transplantation (LT) is a cure for many liver diseases. Blood chimerism of donor origin can develop after LT, which raises the possibility of the existence of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) in the liver. We characterized the blood chimerism in a large cohort of 249 LT patients and analyzed putative HSPCs in adult human livers.

David L. Thomas – 26 April 2012 – Watch the interview with the authors