Keratin 18 overexpression but not phosphorylation or filament organization blocks mouse Mallory body formation

Masaru Harada, Pavel Strnad, Evelyn Z. Resurreccion, Nam‐On Ku, M. Bishr Omary – 22 December 2006 – Several human liver diseases are associated with formation of Mallory body (MB) inclusions. These hepatocyte cytoplasmic deposits are composed primarily of hyperphosphorylated keratins 8 and 18 (K8/K18). Feeding a 3,5‐diethoxycarbonyl‐1,4‐dihydrocollidine (DDC)‐containing diet is a well‐established mouse model of MBs. K8 overexpression, and K8‐null or K18‐null mouse models, indicate that a K8‐greater‐than‐K18 expression ratio is critical for MB formation.

Hepatitis C virus eradication in intravenous drug users maintained with subcutaneous naltrexone implants

Gary P. Jeffrey, Gerry MacQuillan, Fern Chua, Sam Galhenage, Judith Bull, Emma Young, Gary Hulse, George O'Neil – 22 December 2006 – The effectiveness of HCV antiviral therapy in patients who have undergone recent drug dependency treatment and continue to inject drugs sporadically is presently not clear. Patients attending a community‐based drug rehabilitation and naltrexone implant clinic from October 2002 until March 2005 were screened for HCV infection and if positive offered further assessment and treatment with interferon and ribavirin therapy.

Ethanol‐induced oxidative stress suppresses generation of peptides for antigen presentation by hepatoma cells

Natalia A. Osna, Ronda L. White, Sandra Todero, Benita L. Mc Vicker, Geoffrey M. Thiele, Dahn L. Clemens, Dean J. Tuma, Terrence M. Donohue – 22 December 2006 – Processing of peptides for antigen presentation is catalyzed by antigen‐trimming enzymes, including the proteasome and leucine aminopeptidase. Oxidative stress suppresses proteasome function. We hypothesized that in liver cells, processing of antigenic peptides is altered by ethanol metabolism.

Predicting treatment outcome following 24 weeks peginterferon α‐2a/ribavirin therapy in patients infected with HCV genotype 1: Utility of HCV‐RNA at day 0, day 22, day 29, and week 6

Esther Lukasiewicz, Kristoffer Hellstrand, Johan Westin, Carlo Ferrari, Avidan U. Neumann, Jean‐michel Pawlotsky, Solko W. Schalm, Stefan Zeuzem, Bart J. Veldt, Bettina E. Hansen, Elke Verhey‐hart, Martin Lagging – 22 December 2006

Bone marrow–derived cells express matrix metalloproteinases and contribute to regression of liver fibrosis in mice

Reiichi Higashiyama, Yutaka Inagaki, Yun Yu Hong, Miwa Kushida, Sachie Nakao, Maki Niioka, Tetsu Watanabe, Hideyuki Okano, Yumi Matsuzaki, Goshi Shiota, Isao Okazaki – 22 December 2006 – Liver fibrosis is usually progressive, but it can occasionally be reversible if the causative agents are adequately removed or if patients are treated effectively. However, molecular mechanisms responsible for this reversibility of liver fibrosis have been poorly understood.

Linkage between a new splicing site mutation in the MDR3 alias ABCB4 gene and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

Gudrun Schneider, Teresa C. Paus, Gerd A. Kullak‐Ublick, Peter J. Meier, Thomas F. Wienker, Thomas Lang, Patricia van de Vondel, Tilman Sauerbruch, Christoph Reichel – 22 December 2006 – Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is defined as pruritus and elevated bile acid serum concentrations in late pregnancy. Splicing mutations have been described in the multidrug resistance p‐glycoprotein 3 (MDR3, ABCB4) gene in up to 20% of ICP women. Pedigrees studied were not large enough for linkage analysis.

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