Hepatic Cell News Volume 1.15 | May 12 2017

TOP STORY

Hippo Signaling Suppresses Cell Ploidy and Tumorigenesis through Skp2

Investigators report that the Hippo pathway effector Yap promotes the diploid-polyploid conversion and polyploid cell growth through the Akt-Skp2 axis. The depletion or inactivation of Akt or Skp2 abrogated Hippo signal deficiency-induced liver tumorigenesis, indicating their epistatic interaction. They concluded that Hippo-Yap signaling suppressed cell polyploidy and oncogenesis through Skp2. [Cancer Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Hepatic p63 Regulates Steatosis via IKKβ/ER Stress

Scientists showed that p63 regulates hepatic lipid metabolism. Mice with liver-specific p53 deletion develop steatosis and show increased levels of p63. In cultured human hepatocytes, TAp63 inhibition protects against oleic acid-induced lipid accumulation, whereas TAp63 overexpression promotes lipid storage, an effect reversible by IKKβ silencing. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Critical Role of Myc Activation in Mouse Hepatocarcinogenesis Induced by the Activation of AKT and RAS Pathways

The authors examined the role of Myc activation in mouse liver tumors induced by hepatocytic expression of myristoylated AKT and/or mutant HRAS^V12 via transposon-mediated gene integration. [Oncogene] Full Article

Characterization of miR-122-Independent Propagation of HCV

Researchers investigated the roles of miR-122 in both the replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA and the production of infectious particles by using miR-122-knockout Huh7 cells. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article

Enhanced NOLC1 Promotes Cell Senescence and Represses Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Proliferation by Disturbing the Organization of Nucleolus

Scientists report that cellular senescence-inhibited gene knockdown up-regulated NOLC1 by stabilizing the 5′UTR of NOLC1 mRNA, and elevated NOLC1 induced the retention of NOG1 in the nucleolus, which is responsible for rRNA processing. NOLC1 expression was decreased in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue, and the ectopic expression of NOLC1 repressed the proliferation of HCC cells and tumor growth in a HCC xenograft model. [Aging Cell] Full Article

Adipocyte Fatty-Acid Binding Protein Is Overexpressed in Cirrhosis and Correlates with Clinical Outcomes

Researchers investigated plasma fatty-acid-binding proteins (FABPs) levels and their relationship with clinical outcomes in cirrhosis. Plasma levels of L-FABP1 (liver and kidney), I-FABP2 (intestine), and A-FABP4 (adipocyte and macrophages) were measured in 274 patients with decompensated cirrhosis. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Regulation of miR-483-3p by the O-Linked N-Acetylglucosamine Transferase Links Chemosensitivity to Glucose Metabolism in Liver Cancer Cells

The authors demonstrated that in HepG2 cells, the molecular link between glucose concentration and miR-483-3p expression entails the O-linked N-acetylglucosamine transferase, which stabilizes the transcriptional complex at the miR-483 promoter. HepG2 cells showed reduced miR-483-3p expression and increased susceptibility to 5-fluorouracil-induced apoptosis in presence of the inhibitor of glycolysis 2-deoxy-d-glucose. [Oncogenesis] Full Article

Evaluating Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Lines for Tumor Samples Using Within-Sample Relative Expression Orderings of Genes

Concerns are raised about the representativeness of cell lines for tumors due to the culture environment and misidentification. Liver is a major metastatic destination of many cancers, which might further confuse the origin of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines. Scientists aimed to understand how to select proper HCC cell lines for biological experiments. [Liver Int] Abstract

MicroRNA-200a-3p Increases 5-Fluorouracil Resistance by Regulating Dual Specificity Phosphatase 6 Expression

Researchers investigated whether microRNAs (miRNAs) function as pivotal regulators in the acquisition of anti-cancer drug resistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). A survey using a lentivirus library containing 572 precursor miRNAs revealed that five miRNAs promoted cell survival after 5-FU treatment in human hepatocellular carcinoma Hep3B cells. Among the five different clones, the clone expressing miR-200a-3p (Hep3B-miR-200a-3p) was further characterized as a 5-FU-resistant cell line. [Mol Med] Full Article

Downregulation of ANP32B Exerts Anti-Apoptotic Effects in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Scientists elucidated the role of acidic (leucine-rich) nuclear phosphoprotein 32 family member B (ANP32B) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines and tissues. ANP32B expression in HCC cell lines was modulated using siRNA and ANP32B expression plasmids and lentiviruses. [PLoS One] Full Article

Mechanisms of Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation

The authors review findings which reinforce the remarkable complexity and plasticity of hepatic stellate cell activation, and underscore the value of clarifying its regulation in hopes of advancing the development of novel diagnostics and therapies for liver disease. [Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the hepatic cell research field.

AbbVie Demonstrates Leadership in Gastroenterology and Hepatology with New Data and Late-Breaking Studies to Be Presented at Digestive Disease Week^®

AbbVie announced that data from 20 abstracts in gastroenterology and hepatology programs will be presented. [Press release from AbbVie discussing research presented at Digestive Disease Week^® (DDW) 2017, Chicago] Press Release

Study Identifies Genetic Markers that Predict Which Patients with Hepatitis C and Cirrhosis Will Improve with Treatment

Genotyping of patients with advanced cirrhosis from hepatitis C virus could help health-care professionals predict the likelihood of improvement after successful hepatitis C treatment, thus minimizing the need for liver transplants. [Press release from Digestive Disease Week^® discussing research presented at Digestive Disease Week^® (DDW) 2017, Chicago] Press Release

CollPlant Establishes a Separate Division to Focus on 3D Bio-Printing of Organs and Tissues

CollPlant announced that, following the expansion of its activities in the field of 3D biologic printing of organs and tissues, the company has created a division that will focus on the further development of a collagen-based biological ink. CollPlant’s BioInk is intended for use in 3D printers that print organs and tissues using various printing technologies. [CollPlant (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Six New York City Scientists Win Pershing Square Sohn Prize for Young Investigators in Cancer Research

The Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance announced the six winners of the fourth annual Pershing Square Sohn Prize for Young Investigators in Cancer Research, awarded annually to promising early career, NYC-area scientists. Recipients receive $200,000 in funding per year for up to three years, for a total of $600,000, to support explorative, high-risk/high-reward cancer research. [Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance] Press Release

Canadian Cancer Trials Group Awarded $23.5M over Five Years

The Canadian Cancer Society has renewed its commitment to the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG) through a major funding award of $23.5 million over 5 years. This generous funding allows CCTG to continue its world-class cancer clinical trials research. [Queen’s University] Press Release

China Cracks Down on Fake Data in Drug Trials

Those who submit faked clinical trial data might now go to jail — and in extreme circumstances, be executed — under a new interpretation of China’s criminal code. The policy shift is one of a handful of measures that China is implementing both to speed up its notoriously slow drug-approval process and to keep dangerous and ineffective drugs off the market. [Nature News] Editorial

The Secret War against Counterfeit Science

China is famous for knock-off DVDs, Louis Vuitton bags and Rolex watches. But counterfeit reagents aren’t on sale in busy public markets. They are sold through sophisticated websites, mixed in with legitimate supplies, and sourced and sold using a network of unwitting partners. [Nature News] Editorial

Science Publishers Try New Tack to Combat Unauthorized Paper Sharing

The unauthorized sharing of copyrighted research papers is on the rise, say analysts who track the publishing industry. Faced with this problem, science publishers seem to be changing tack in their approach to researchers who breach copyright. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Gordon Research Conferences: Cell Growth & Proliferation
July 9-14, 2017
Mount Snow, Vermont, United States

NEW Glucose Transport: Gateway to Metabolic Systems Biology
July 16-21, 2017
Snowmass Village, Colorado, United States

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.

NEW Assistant Professor – Renal and Hepatic Pharmacology (University of Manitoba)

NEW Chief – Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (University of Nebraska Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Obesity-Associated Complications (University of Kentucky College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Pediatrics/Cell Biology (Washington University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Research (University of Groningen)

Scientist – Hepatic Nuclear Receptor Biology (Moderna Therapeutics)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Research (University of Groningen)

Research Lead – Liver Discovery (Spark Therapeutics)

Research Technician II – Translational Liver Cancer (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Faculty Member – GI/Liver Pathology (Merritt Hawkins)

Postdoctoral Researchers – Hepatology and Liver Transplantation (Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba/University of Cordoba)

Academic Surgical Pathologist – Liver/Gastrointestinal (Brigham and Women’s Hospital)

Academic Pathologist – Liver/GI (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center)

Associate or Full Professor – Gastroenterology (University of Washington)

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