Hepatic Cell News Volume 1.26 | Jul 28 2017

TOP STORY

Long Noncoding RNA TSLNC8 Is a Tumor Suppressor that Inactivates the IL-6/STAT3 Signaling Pathway

Researchers report a novel tumor suppressor long noncoding RNAs on chromosome 8p12 (TSLNC8) that is frequently deleted and downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues. TSLNC8 significantly suppresses the proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. [Hepatology] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Recombinant cccDNA of Hepatitis B Virus Induces Long-Term Viral Persistence with Chronic Hepatitis in a Mouse Model

To closely mimic chronic hepatitis, investigators used a replication-defective recombinant adenoviral vector to deliver recombinant covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) to the liver, which led to prominent hepatitis B virus persistence throughout the experiment duration in Alb-Cre transgenic mice. [Hepatology] Abstract

Long-Term Hepatitis B Infection in a Scalable Hepatic Co-Culture System

Scientists showed that cell-culture and patient-derived hepatitis B virus can establish persistent infection for over thirty days in a self-assembling, primary hepatocyte co-culture system. [Nat Commun] Full Article

The Liver-Enriched lnc-LFAR1 Promotes Liver Fibrosis by Activating TGFβ and Notch Pathways

Investigators demonstrated that lnc-LFAR1 silencing impairs hepatic stellate cells activation, reduces TGFβ-induced hepatocytes apoptosis in vitro and attenuates both CCl₄– and bile duct ligation-induced liver fibrosis in mice. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Reticulocalbin-2 Enhances Hepatocellular Carcinoma Proliferation via Modulating the EGFR-ERK Pathway

Researchers showed that reticulocalbin-2 (RCN2) was upregulated in tumors compared with adjacent non-tumorous tissues in hepatocellular carcinoma patients and RCN2 expression clinically correlated with tumor size, disease recurrence and survival rate. [Oncogene] Abstract

An In Vitro Human Liver Model by iPSC-Derived Parenchymal and Non-Parenchymal Cells

The authors found that the transforming growth factor β and Rho signaling pathways, respectively, regulated the proliferation and maturation of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC) and hepatic stellate cells (HSC) progenitors isolated from mouse fetal livers. They established culture systems to generate LSECs and HSCs from human induced pluripotent stem cells. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Chemical Cocktails Enable Hepatic Reprogramming of Mouse Fibroblasts with a Single Transcription Factor

Scientists showed that mouse fibroblasts can be transdifferentiated into hepatocyte-like cells (iHeps) using only one transcription factor plus a chemical cocktail. These iHeps showed typical epithelial morphology, expressed multiple hepatocyte-specific genes, and acquired hepatocyte functions. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Hepatitis C Virus Exploits Death Receptor 6-Mediated Signaling Pathway to Facilitate Viral Propagation

By transcriptome sequencing analysis, researchers identified host genes that were highly differentially expressed in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected cells. Of these candidates, they selected Death receptor 6 (DR6) for further characterization. They demonstrated that both mRNA and protein levels of DR6 were increased in the context of HCV replication and further showed that promoter activity of DR6 was increased by HCV infection. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Hepatocyte Specific TIMP3 Expression Prevents Diet Dependent Fatty Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Investigators generated an hepatocyte-specific tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (TIMP3) ‘gain-of-function’ mouse model under the control of the albumin promoter and investigated its effects during high-fat diet. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Overexpression of Zinc Finger Protein 687 Enhances Tumorigenic Capability and Promotes Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The authors report that ZNF687 was markedly upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines and HCC tissues, and was significantly correlated with relapse-free survival in HCC. [Oncogenesis] Full Article

Paired Related Homeobox Protein 1 Regulates PDGF-Induced Chemotaxis of Hepatic Stellate Cells in Liver Fibrosis

Scientists demonstrated that paired related homeobox protein 1 (Prrx1) is involved in platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-dependent hepatic stellate cell migration via modulation of the expression of metalloproteinases MMP2 and MMP9. [Lab Invest] Abstract

Regulation of Hepatic Glucose Metabolism in Health and Disease

The authors discuss the in vivo regulation of hepatic glucose fluxes. They highlight the importance of indirect (extrahepatic) control of hepatic gluconeogenesis and direct (hepatic) control of hepatic glycogen metabolism. [Nat Rev Endocrinol] Abstract

A Novel Perspective on the ApoM-S1P Axis, Highlighting the Metabolism of ApoM and Its Role in Liver Fibrosis and Neuroinflammation

Researchers provide novel insights on apoM and S1P, and its role in hepatic fibrosis, neuroinflammation and blood brain barrier integrity. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

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

World Hepatitis Day Sets the Stage for the Elimination of Viral Hepatitis

World Hepatitis Day marks the first time that the global health community has come together to officially begin moving towards the elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030. It comes as the World Health Organization publishes new data on July 28^th from 28 countries, representing approximately 70% of the global hepatitis burden – which indicates that efforts to eliminate hepatitis are gaining momentum. [World Hepatitis Alliance] Press Release

Eiger Completes Enrollment in Phase II LIMT HDV Study of Pegylated Interferon Lambda in Hepatitis Delta Virus Infection

Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, Inc. announced completion of enrollment of the Phase II LIMT HDV (Lambda Interferon MonoTherapy in hepatitis D virus) Study, a monotherapy trial of pegylated interferon lambda 1a as a potential treatment for chronic HDV infection. [Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Enanta Announces European Commission Grants AbbVie Marketing Authorization for MAVIRET^® for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C in All Major Genotypes

Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the European Commission has granted AbbVie marketing authorization for MAVIRET^®, a once-daily, ribavirin-free treatment for adults with chronic hepatitis C virus infection across all major genotypes. [Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc] Press Release

European Commission Grants Marketing Authorization for Gilead’s Vosevi^® for the Treatment of All Genotypes of Chronic Hepatitis C

Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced that the European Commission has granted marketing authorization for Vosevi^®, as a once-daily single tablet regimen for the treatment of adults with genotype 1-6 chronic hepatitis C virus infection. [Gilead Sciences, Inc.] Press Release

Ding, Ding, Ding! CRISPR Patent Fight Enters Next Round

The University of California has fired another legal salvo in the prolonged patent battle over CRISPR, the revolutionary gene-editing technology that has spawned a billion dollar industry. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Budding UK Innovation Agency Gains Cash — and Clout

UK scientists fearful for their research funds ahead of Brexit were cheered when the government announced it would plough an extra £4.7 billion (US$6.1 billion) into research and development by 2020–21. But the biggest winner from the largely industry-focused cash may be a government innovation agency that is rapidly gaining clout. [Nature News] Editorial

Senate Spending Panel Would Squeeze Science Agencies but Exceed Trump Request

A Senate spending panel voted today to reduce funding in 2018 below current levels for several science agencies under its jurisdiction. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Stem Cell Society Singapore’s (SCSS) Symposium 2017
November 16-17, 2017
Singapore, Singapore

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

NEW Post-Doctoral Fellow – Liver Glucose Metabolism (University of Colorado School of Medicine)

NEW Research Assistant – Hepatic Gene Expression (Wayne State University)

Research Assistant/Associate – Immuno-Oncology of Liver Cancer (Newcastle University)

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow – Pathogenesis of Metabolic Diseases (Columbia University’s Department of Medicine)

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow – Liver Cancer Pathogenesis and Immunobiology (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Post-Doctoral Scholarship – Chronic Viral Hepatitis (Karolinska Institutet)

Postdoc or PhD Position – Cancer Research (University Medical Center Groningen)

Post-Doctoral Researcher – Cancer and Epigenetics (St. Anne’s University Hospital)

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow – Translational Liver Cancer Research (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

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

Post-Doctoral Associate – Gene Therapy (University of Massachusetts Medical School)

Research Fellow – Cancer Research (National University of Singapore)

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

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