Hepatic Cell News Volume 1.27 | Aug 4 2017

TOP STORY

The HLF/IL-6/STAT3 Feedforward Circuit Drives Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation to Promote Liver Fibrosis

The fibrotic specimens of patients and HLF (hepatic leukemia factor)^PB/PB mice were used to assess the expression and role of HLF in liver fibrosis. Primary murine hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and human HSC line Lx2 were used to investigate the impact of HLF on HSC activation and the underlying mechanism. [Gut] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

GATA4 Loss of Function in Liver Cancer Impedes Precursor to Hepatocyte Transition

Analysis of minimal commonly deleted 8p (chromosome 8) segments to identify candidate tumor-suppressor genes implicated GATA4, a master transcription factor driver of hepatocyte epithelial lineage fate. [J Clin Invest] Full Article

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

Scientists generated a 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

4β-Hydroxywithanolide E Modulates Alternative Splicing of Apoptotic Genes in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Huh-7 Cells

Researchers isolated 4β-Hydroxywithanolide E (4bHWE) from the traditional herb Physalis peruviana and investigated its biological effect in cancer cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

MicroRNA-30a Ameliorates Hepatic Fibrosis by Inhibiting Beclin1-Mediated Autophagy

Investigators explored the role of microRNA-30a and the mechanism involved in hepatic fibrosis. [J Cell Mol Med] Abstract

Extracellular Vesicles from Human Liver Stem Cells Restore Argininosuccinate Synthase Deficiency

Scientists evaluated whether extracellular vesicles derived from normal human liver stem cells (HLSCs) restored argininosuccinate synthase enzymatic activity and urea production in hepatocytes differentiated from HLSCs derived from a patient with type I citrullinemia. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Telomerase Enzyme Deficiency Promotes Metabolic Dysfunction in Murine Hepatocytes upon Dietary Stress

In murine models, telomere dysfunction has been shown to metabolically compromise hematopoietic cells, liver, and heart via the activation of the p53-PGC axis. Tert- and Terc-deficient mice were challenged with liquid high fat diet. Liver metabolic contents were analyzed by CE-TOFMS and liver fat content was confirmed by confocal and electronic microscopy. [Liver Int] Abstract

The Long Noncoding RNA HULC Promotes Liver Cancer by Increasing the Expression of the HMGA2 Oncogene via Sequestration of the MicroRNA-186

Researchers hypothesized that the long noncoding RNA highly up-regulated in liver cancer (HULC) might modulate the oncogene high mobility group A2 (HMGA2) to promote hepatocarcinogenesis. [J Biol Chem] Abstract

Inhibition of the Growth of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells through Fibroblast Growth Factor 18 Suppressed by MiR-139

MiR-139 has been reported as a tumor suppressor in various types of cancer and it can regulate many tumor-related genes, however its association with fibroblast growth factor 18 (FGF18) expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been reported and thus remains unknown. Scientists explored the potential regulation mechanism of miR-139 with FGF18 in HCC tissues and cell lines. [Oncol Rep] Abstract

LncRNA GHET1 Activated by H3K27 Acetylation Promotes Cell Tumorigenesis through Regulating ATF1 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Investigators explored the functional involvement of GHET1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The expression level of target molecules in HCC tissues or cell lines was determined by qRT-PCR and western blot. The expression of endogenous GHET1 and ATF1 was modulated by using cell transfection. [Biomed Pharmacother] Abstract

Mechanosensing in Liver Regeneration

Researchers describe the role of mechanical forces and mechanosensing in regulating liver regeneration with focus on the role of altered shear and extracellular matrix environment following injury. [Semin Cell Dev Biol] Abstract

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

AbbVie Receives U.S. FDA Approval of MAVYRET™ (Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir) for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C in All Major Genotypes (GT 1-6) in as Short as 8 Weeks

AbbVie announced that the U.S. FDA approved MAVYRET™ (Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir), a once-daily, ribavirin-free treatment for adults with chronic hepatitis C virus infection across all major genotypes (GT1-6). MAVYRET is an eight-week, pan-genotypic treatment for patients without cirrhosis and who are new to treatment. [AbbVie Corporation (PR Newswire)] Press Release 1 | Press Release 2

Georgia State Spin-Off, Inlighta Biosciences LLC, Receives $2 Million Grant to Develop Enhanced MRI Contrast Agents for Liver Cancers and Metastasis

A local start-up, life sciences company founded by Dr. Jenny Yang, Regents’ Professor of Biochemistry at Georgia State University, has received a $2 million federal grant to develop improved magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents for the early detection of liver cancers and other cancers, such as uveal melanoma or eye cancer, that have metastasized to the liver. [Georgia State University] Press Release

First Patient Dosed in a Phase I/II Trial of Pexa-Vec + Opdivo^® for the First-Line Treatment of Advanced Liver Cancer

Transgene announced that the first patient has been treated in a Phase I/II clinical trial evaluating the combination of Pexa-Vec with Opdivo^® (Nivolumab) as a first-line treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, which accounts for approximately 75% of liver cancers. [Transgene] Press Release

CRISPR Patent Battle in Europe Takes a ‘Wild’ Twist with Surprising Player

MilliporeSigma, a subsidiary of pharmaceutical giant Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany, has become a new major player in the complicated European patent battles over CRISPR, the revolutionary genome-editing tool. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Senate Passes FDA User Fee and Right-to-Try Bills

The Senate has voted in quick succession to pass bills reauthorizing the FDA to collect fees from the industry and expanding access to unapproved medicines. President Trump is now set to sign the user fee bill into law, while the right-to-try legislation will go to the House. [FierceBiotech] Editorial

Drug Approval Needs a Helping Hand

It’s time for researchers to lend their expertise to expediting the arrival of cutting-edge therapies that are waiting in the wings. [Nature News] Editorial

After French Drug Trial Tragedy, European Union Issues New Rules to Protect Study Volunteers

The European Medicines Agency has issued new, stricter rules for studies that test drugs in people for the first time. They aim to better protect participants in such first-in-human studies—often healthy volunteers who receive a financial reward. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW 11^th American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)-Japanese Cancer Association (JCA) Joint Conference
February 8-12, 2019
Maui, Hawaii, United States

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

NEW Assistant Professor – Biomedical Research (National Institutes of Health)

NEW Postdoctoral Scholar – Computational Biology/Cancer Genomics (University of Chicago)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology (University of Louisville)

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

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)

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

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