Receptor‐mediated delivery of hepatitis B virus DNA and antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to avian liver cells

J Madon, H E Blum – 1 September 1996 – A highly efficient receptor‐mediated delivery system for DNA and oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) to avian liver cells has been established, using complexes of nonmodified human adenovirus particles and a protein conjugate consisting of N‐acetyl‐glucosamine‐modified bovine serum albumin, streptavidin, and Poly‐L‐lysine. The newly developed method of protein‐conjugate preparation and purification yielded highly stable complexes with high DNA delivery efficiency for constructs expressing the lacZ gene, hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, and ODNs.

The diagnosis of subclinical hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis using neuropsychological tests and automated electroencephalogram analysis

J C Quero, I J Hartmann, J Meulstee, W C Hop, S W Schalm – 1 September 1996 – Neuropsychological tests used for the assessment of subclinical hepatic encephalopathy (SHE) may overdiagnose SHE because scores are usually not corrected for age. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of SHE using two easy administrable psychometric tests (Number Connection Test part A [NCT‐A], Symbol Digit Test [SDT]) with age‐related normal values. In addition, spectral electroencephalogram (EEG) was used, which is the in‐house electrophysiological method for quantifying encephalopathy.

Selective enhancement of lipid peroxidation in plasma membrane in two experimental models of liver regeneration: Partial hepatectomy and acute CCl4 administration

I Aguilar‐Delfin, F López‐Barrera, R Hernández‐Munoz – 1 September 1996 – It has been proposed that lipid peroxidation (LP) might be a modulator of cell division, influencing initiation and cessation of mitosis in regenerating liver. However, the understanding of the participating role of this event in the onset of liver proliferation has been hampered by the fact that both higher or lower LP have been reported after two‐thirds partial hepatectomy (PH).

Cyclosporine inhibits catabolism of low‐density lipoproteins in HepG2 cells by about 25%

O A Rayyes, A Wallmark, C Florén – 1 September 1996 – The aim of this study was to elucidate the possible causes of elevated low‐density lipoprotein (LDL)‐cholesterol levels in transplanted patients treated with the immunosuppressant drug, cyclosporine. HepG2 cells, from a well‐differentiated cell‐line of hepatoma cells, were cultured and used as a model for in vitro hepatocytic LDL uptake. Different concentrations of cyclosporine, which were within the range of concentrations found in humans treated with cyclosporine, were added to tissue culture medium together with 125I‐LDL.

Microfilament‐disrupting agent latrunculin A induces and increased number of fenestrae in rat liver sinusoidal endothelial cells: Comparison with cytochalasin B

F Braet, R De Zanger, D Jans, I Spector, E Wisse – 1 September 1996 – This report describes the effect of the actin‐disrupting marine toxin latrunculin A on the cytoskeleton and fenestrae of liver endothelial cells (LECs). Fluorescence microscopy and whole mount‐transmission electron microscopic preparations of isolated, purified, and cultured LECs showed that latrunculin A, which sequesters actin monomers and depolymerizes actin filaments, caused profound changes in microfilament organization in LECs.

Osthole increases glycosylation of hepatitis B surface antigen and suppresses the secretion of hepatitis B virus in vitro

R Huang, C Chen, Y Huang, D Hsieh, C Hu, C Chen, C Chang – 1 September 1996 – During screening of Chinese herbal medicines for the activities against hepatitis B virus (HBV), a known pure compound, osthole, was found to inhibit the secretion of HBV surface antigens in vitro. The secretion of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in culture medium of MS‐G2 and HuH‐7 cells transfected with HBV DNA decreased by 60% to 70% after osthole treatment, without any detectable cytotoxic effects.

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