Hepatic Cell News

Hepatic Cell News is an online resource covering the top research on hepatocytes and liver diseases.

Altimmune Announces Initiation of RESTORE Phase II Trial Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Pemvidutide in Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease (ALD)

July 11, 2025

[Altimmune, Inc. ] Altimmune, Inc. announced that it has enrolled the first patient in the RESTORE Phase II trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of pemvidutide in subjects with ALD.

METTL21A Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression via Methylating and Stabilizing BAG3

July 11, 2025

[NPJ Precision Oncology] Researchers reported that methyltransferase 21A (METTL21A) is significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and associated with poor clinical prognosis.

PI(4)P Recruits CIDE Proteins to Promote the Formation of Unilocular Lipid Droplets during Adipogenesis and Hepatic Steatosis

July 9, 2025

[Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences of The United States of America] Scientists demonstrate that PI(4)P decorates a subset of lipid droplets (LD) to recruit and activate CIDE proteins. In severe steatotic liver, depleting PI(4)P impeded LD enlargement.

Stressed Hepatocyte Sustains Alcohol-Associated Hepatitis Progression by Producing Leukocyte Cell-Derived Chemotaxin 2

July 8, 2025

[Hepatology] Researchers investigated the regulatory role of leucocyte cell-derived chemotaxin 2 (LECT2) in hepatocyte–neutrophil interaction and its impact on alcohol-associated hepatitis progression.

Binge Drinking Triggers VGLUT3-Mediated Glutamate Secretion and Subsequent Hepatic Inflammation by Activating mGluR5/NOX2 in Kupffer Cells

July 7, 2025

[Nature Communications] Researchers showed with male mice that hepatic glutamate accumulates in vesicles of perivenous hepatocytes through vesicular glutamate transporter 3 (VGLUT3), regulated by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor upon chronic alcohol intake.

Dual TIGIT and PD-1 Blockade with Domvanalimab Plus Zimberelimab in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Refractory to Anti-PD-1 Therapies: The Phase II LIVERTI Trial

July 7, 2025

[Nature Communications] Investigators conducted the Phase II LIVERTI trial testing domvanalimab, a monoclonal Fc-silent anti-TIGIT antibody, plus zimberelimab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, in immunotherapy refractory HCC.

Magnesium Microspheres for Enhanced Transarterial Chemoembolization Therapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: From Animal Models to a Pilot Clinical Study

July 7, 2025

[Science Advances] As demonstrated in a rabbit orthotopic liver cancer model, artery infusion of magnesium microsphere–dispersed lipiodol offered greatly enhanced therapeutic outcome compared to lipiodol-based or polymeric-bead–based transarterial chemoembolization.

Human Liver Immunology: From In Vitro Models to New Insights

July 4, 2025

[Cellular & Molecular Immunology] Owing to significant interspecies differences in liver immunology, human models, such as classical cocultures or organogenesis-inspired liver organoids with immune compartments, are becoming essential for advancing the field.

Targeting HBV with RNA Interference: Paths to Cure

July 4, 2025

[Science Translational Medicine] Emerging RNA interference therapies targeting hepatitis B virus RNAs reduce viral replication, antigen expression, and, in turn, cccDNA activity, providing a potential path to a functional cure.

CLDN4 Palmitoylation Promotes Hepatic-to-Biliary Lineage Transition and Lenvatinib Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

July 2, 2025

[Cell Reports Medicine] Investigators identified the hepatic-to-biliary lineage transition, associated with Claudin 4, a tight junction protein, as a potential target for mitigating lenvatinib resistance in HCC.

Nuclear Pirin Promotes HCC by Acting As a Key Inflammation-Facilitating Factor

July 2, 2025

[Hepatology] The authors investigated Pirin's role in HCC tumourigenesis through RNA interference, genetic knockout, and pharmaceutical inhibition in HCC cell lines and various mouse models.

Inflammation and Immunity in Liver Homeostasis and Disease: A Nexus of Hepatocytes, Nonparenchymal Cells, and Immune Cells

July 2, 2025

[Cellular & Molecular Immunology] Researchers highlight the often-underappreciated contributions of epithelial, endothelial, and mesenchymal liver cells in regulating inflammation and immunity across various liver diseases, emphasizing their importance in disease onset, progression, and regression.

The publications featured in Hepatic Cell News are expertly selected by our in-house editorial team from high impact, peer-reviewed academic journals. We cover areas including the culturing and characterization of hepatocytes, liver stem cells, and the pathogenesis of conditions such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Additionally, we provide the latest updates on broader news, upcoming events, and job postings to keep the global liver research community connected!