Maurizio D'Aquino, Lucio Michieletto, Diego Tempesta, Corrado Pipan – 1 April 1994

1 April 1994

Detlef Jakschies, Reinhardt Zachoval, Rainer Müller, Michael Manns, Klaus‐Ulrich Nolte, Heinz‐Kurt Hochkeppel, Michel‐Andre Horisberger, Helmuth Deicher, Peter Von Wussow – 1 April 1994 – The human MxA protein is a new specific marker for type I interferon activity both in vitro and in vivo.

Carole Oddoux, Gerd Grieninger – 1 March 1994 – In all vertebrate species studied, the complex, disulfide‐linked structure of fibrinogen is essentially the same: a hexamer assembled from three different subunits (Aα, Bß,γ)2. This study utilized species differences in fibrinogen subunit monomer pools to address the question of how these surplus subunit pools may affect the assembly process. We used a chicken model system in which Bß and γ‐subunits are present in excess, in contrast to the Aα and γ‐subunit surplus found in human model systems.

Antonello Pietrangelo, Rossana Gualdi, Giovanna Casalgrandi, Albert Geerts, Pieter de Bleser, Giuliana Montosi, Ezio Ventura – 1 March 1994 – In recent years, identifying the hepatic cell type responsible for collagen synthesis in experimental models of postnecrotic or inflammatory fibrosis has been the subject of active investigation. In primary iron overload states, however, hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis occur without accompanying necroinflammatory phenomena.

Renée E. Poupon, Beverley Balkau, Jérôme Guéchot, François Heintzmann – 1 March 1994 – The aim of this study was to define factors predictive of the onset of the terminal phase, defined by hyperbilirubinemia or the occurrence of a severe clinical complication, in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis treated with ursodeoxycholic acid. The 97 primary biliary cirrhosis patients in this study participated in a 2‐yr clinical trial.

Jehyuk Lee, Linda Greenbaum, Barbara A. Haber, Deborah Nagle, Victoria Lee, Vashti Miles, Kenneth L. Mohn, Maja Bucan, Rebecca Taub – 1 March 1994 – Insulin‐like growth factor–binding protein‐1s are important modulators of the insulin‐like growth factors that may have both positive and negative effects on the ability of insulin‐like growth factors to stimulate cell growth. The IGFBP‐1 gene is one of the most highly induced immediate‐early genes after partial hepatectomy.

A. Mieke Jonker, Freke W. J. Dijkhuis, Machiel J. Hardonk, Peter Moerkerk, Joop Ten Kate, Joris Grond – 1 March 1994 – Multiple injections of D‐galactosamine induce liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in rats. The purpose of this immunopathological study was to correlate inflammation and hepatic extracellular matrix remodeling after repeated administration of galactosamine. Rats were given 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 140 intraperitoneal injections of D‐galactosamine (500 mg/kg body wt, three times weekly). Controls received injections of saline solution.

Raymond N. Dubois – 1 March 1994 – The present study was conducted to examine the effect of activin A on growth of rat hepatocytes. EGF induced a 10‐fold increase in DNA synthesis as assessed by [3H]thymidine incorporation in cultured hepatocytes. When activin A was added together with EGF, DNA synthesis induced by EGF was markedly inhibited. Inhibition was detected at a concentration of 10−10 M, and 5×10−9 M activin A almost completely blocked EGF‐mediated DNA synthesis. Similarly, activin A completely blocked DNA synthesis induced by hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor.

Raymond T. Chung – 1 March 1994 – Interferons (IFNs) induce antiviral activity in many cell types. The ability of IFN‐γ to inhibit replication of ectromelia, vaccinia, and herpes simplex‐1 viruses in mouse macrophages correlated with the cells' production of nitric oxide (NO). Viral replication was restored in IFN‐γ–treated macrophages exposed to inhibitors of NO synthase. Conversely, epithelial cells with no detectable NO synthesis restricted viral replication when transfected with a complementary DNA encoding inducible NO synthase or treated with organic compounds that generate NO.