Hepatic Cell News Volume 1.21 | Jun 23 2017

TOP STORY

Kinase-Independent Functions of RIPK1 Regulate Hepatocyte Survival and Liver Carcinogenesis

Investigators used genetic mouse models to study the role of receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) in liver homeostasis, injury, and cancer. Mice with a combined deficiency of RIPK1 and RelA in liver parenchymal cells showed increased hepatocyte apoptosis and developed spontaneous chronic liver disease and cancer that were independent of TNF receptor 1 signaling. [J Clin Invest] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Critical Role of CREBH-Mediated Induction of TGF-β2 by HCV Infection in Fibrogenic Responses in Hepatic Stellate Cells

Researchers studied transcriptional up-regulation of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), especially TGF-β2, which is mediated via the activation of liver-enriched transcription factor CREBH triggered by hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and its functional significance for induction of profibrogenic phenotypes via interaction of HCV-infected cells with hepatic stellate cells. [Hepatology] Abstract

TET-Catalyzed 5-Hydroxymethylation Precedes HNF4A Promoter Choice during Differentiation of Bipotent Liver Progenitors

Using an in vitro model of hepatocyte differentiation, the authors showed that DNA hydroxymethylation (5hmC) precedes the expression of promoter 1 (P1)-dependent isoforms of HNF4A, a master transcription factor of hepatocyte identity. 5hmC and HNF4A expression from P1 were dependent on ten-eleven translocation (TET) dioxygenases. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Prolonged Darkness Reduces Liver Fibrosis in a Mouse Model of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis by miR-200b Down-Regulation

Researchers determined the therapeutic effects of prolonged dark therapy or melatonin administration on hepatic fibrosis in the Mdr2^−/− mouse model of primary sclerosing cholangitis. After overexpression of arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase or inhibition of miR-200b in cholangiocytes and hepatic stellate cells in vitro, they evaluated angiogenesis and fibrosis gene expression. [FASEB J] Abstract

Focal Adhesion Kinase Regulates Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation and Liver Fibrosis

Scientists showed that focal-adhesion-kinase (FAK) plays a key role in promoting hepatic stellate cells activation in vitro and liver fibrosis progression in vivo. FAK inhibitor attenuated liver fibrosis in vivo and significantly reduced collagen and α-smooth muscle actin expression in an animal model of liver fibrosis. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Thymosin Beta-4 Regulates Activation of Hepatic Stellate Cells via Hedgehog Signaling

Researchers hypothesized that thymosin beta-4 (TB4) influences hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation through hedgehog pathway. HSC functions declined in a TB4 siRNA-treated LX-2. TB4 suppression down-regulated both integrin linked kinase followed by the decreased expression of both smoothened and glioblastoma 2. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Fluid Shear Stress Regulates HepG2 Cell Migration though Time-Dependent Integrin Signaling Cascade

Hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells were exposed to fluid shear stress (FSS) for transient duration, short duration and long duration, respectively. Investigators examined the expression and translocation of integrins induced FAK-Rho GTPases signaling events. Their results showed that FSS endowed HepG2 cells with higher migration ability via reorganizing cellular F-actin and disrupting intercellular tight junctions. [Cell Adh Migr] Abstract

Inhibition of Hepatitis B Viral Entry by Nucleic Acid Polymers in HepaRG Cells and Primary Human Hepatocytes

The authors investigated the specific anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) antiviral activity of nucleic acid polymers (NAPs) in the HepaRG human hepatoma cell line and primary cultures of human hepatocytes. NAPs dose-dependently inhibited HBV entry in a phosphorothioation-dependent, sequence-independent and size-dependent manner. [PLoS One] Full Article

LncRNA HULC Promotes the Growth of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells via Stabilizing COX-2 Protein

Scientists demonstrated that highly upregulated in liver cancer (HULC) promoted the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through elevating COX-2 protein. The corresponding mechanism by which HULC upregulated COX-2 showed that HULC enhanced the level of ubiquitin-specific peptidase 22, which decreased ubiquitin-mediated degradation of COX-2 protein by removing the conjugated polyubiquitin chains from COX-2 and finally stabilized COX-2 protein. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

Extracellular Vesicles in Liver Disease and Potential as Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets

The authors review advances in understanding the role of extracellular vesicles in liver diseases and discuss their utility in biomarker discovery and therapeutics. [Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol] Abstract

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

Virginia Catalyst Awards $2,825,000 to Fund Bioscience Research Initiatives

The Virginia Biosciences Health Research Corporation, known as Virginia Catalyst, announced that it has awarded $2.825 million in grants to six collaborative bioscience commercialization projects between Virginia’s research universities and private companies. [Virginia Biosciences Health Research Corporation] Press Release

AbbVie Receives CHMP Positive Opinion for MAVIRET™ (Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir) for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C in All Major Genotypes (GT1-6)

AbbVie announced that the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency has granted a positive opinion recommending marketing authorization of MAVIRET™, an investigational, pan-genotypic treatment for adults with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. [AbbVie Inc.] Press Release

US Court Grants Elsevier Millions in Damages from Sci-Hub

One of the world’s largest science publishers, Elsevier, won a default legal judgement against websites that provide illicit access to tens of millions of research papers and books. A New York district court awarded Elsevier US$15 million in damages for copyright infringement by Sci-Hub, the Library of Genesis project and related sites. [Nature News] Editorial

University of Tokyo Scientist Hit by Anonymous Allegations Fights Back

Anonymous allegations of questionable data and images in 22 papers by six prominent groups at the prestigious University of Tokyo prompted the school to set up an investigating committee. Now, even before the panel completes its investigation, one of the accused researchers has mounted a staunch defense of his work. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

China Cracks Down on Fake Peer Reviews

The Chinese government is going on the offensive against scientists who dupe journals by creating fraudulent reviews of submitted papers. A coalition of agencies led by the science ministry announced that the government would suspend the grants of researchers involved in such fraud, which surfaced earlier this year when a cancer journal retracted 107 research papers from Chinese authors. [Nature News] Editorial

Strengthened US Sanctions on Cuba Disappoint Scientists

US President Donald Trump announced that he would strengthen travel and trade restrictions against Cuba, reversing his predecessor’s attempts to normalize relations with the country. The move is a blow to scientists who hoped that former president Barack Obama’s push to relax US restrictions on Cuba would make it easier for researchers there to travel and to collaborate with colleagues in the United States. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 7^th InterAmerican Oncology Conference
October 5-6, 2017
Buenos Aires, Argentina

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

NEW Senior Investigator/Investigator III – Molecular Pathology (Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research)

NEW Assistant/Associate/Full Staff – Liver Disease (Lerner Research Institute)

NEW Postdoctoral Research Associate – Liver and Pancreatic Carcinogenesis (Keck School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Associate – Gene Therapy (University of Massachusetts Medical School)

Research Fellow – Cancer Research (National University of Singapore)

Postdoctoral Position – Novel Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Liver and Pancreatic Carcinogenesis (University of Illinois College of Medicine)

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

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

Scientist – Hepatic Nuclear Receptor Biology (Moderna Therapeutics)

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

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

Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

Have we missed an important article or publication in Hepatic Cell News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.