Hepatic Cell News Volume 1.35 | Sep 29 2017

TOP STORY

FGF19 Protects Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells against Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress via Activation of FGFR4-GSK3β-Nrf2 Signaling

Researchers showed that the fibroblast growth factor FGF19, a gene frequently amplified in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), facilitates a survival response to endoplasmic reticulum stress. Levels of FGF19 expression were increased in stressed HCC cells in culture and in a mouse xenograft model. [Cancer Res] Abstract

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Proliferating EpCAM-Positive Ductal Cells in the Inflamed Liver Give Rise to Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Scientists demonstrated that proliferating ductal cells expressing the established surface and cancer stem cell marker EpCAM give rise to hepatocellular carcinoma in inflamed liver. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Biocompatibility Assessment of Functionalized Magnetic Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles in Human HepaRG Cells

The potential toxicity on HepaRG cells of pristine, pegylated (PEG), and lipid (DMPC) magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (M-MSNs) were compared. Investigators observed by transmission electron microscopy that the DMPC and pristine M-MSNs were greatly internalized. In comparison, PEG M-MSNs showed a slower cellular uptake. [Nanotoxicology] Full Article

Survival Advantage of Both Human Hepatocyte Xenografts and Genome Edited Hepatocytes for Treatment of α-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

A human PiZ allele was crossed onto immune-deficient (NSG) strain to create a recipient strain (NSG-PiZ) for human hepatocyte xenotransplantation. Results indicated that NSG-PiZ recipients support heightened engraftment of normal human primary hepatocytes as compared with NSG recipients. [Mol Ther] Full Article

MCUR1-Mediated Mitochondrial Calcium Signaling Facilitates Cell Survival of Hepatocellular Carcinoma via ROS-Dependent P53 Degradation

Mitochondrial calcium uniporter regulator 1 (MCUR1) was frequently upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells to enhance the Ca²⁺ uptake into mitochondria in a MCU-dependent manner, which significantly facilitated cell survival by promoting cell proliferation and inhibiting mitochondria-dependent intrinsic apoptosis, and thus contributed to poor prognosis of HCC patients. [Antioxid Redox Signal] Abstract

In Vitro and In Vivo Study of the Application of Volvox Spheres to Co-Culture Vehicles in Liver Tissue Engineering

Scientists encapsulated rat mesenchymal stem cells and AML12 hepatocytes in volvox spheres and extensively evaluated the effects of various culturing modes on cell functions and fates. [Acta Biomater] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Long Term Fate of Human Fetal Liver Progenitor Cells Transplanted in Injured Mouse Livers

The authors report transplantation of a liver progenitor population isolated from human fetal livers into immune-permissive mice with follow-up up to 36 weeks after transplant. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Exercise Training Enhances In Vivo Clearance of Endotoxin and Attenuates Inflammatory Responses by Potentiating Kupffer Cell Phagocytosis

The effects of exercise training on Kupffer cell function were studied in terms of in vivo endotoxin clearance and inflammatory responses. In an in vitro experiment, the addition of DHEA to RAW264.7 cells increased bead phagocytic capacity and attenuated endotoxin-induced inflammatory responses. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Ethanol-Triggered Lipophagy Requires SQSTM1 in AML12 Hepatic Cells

Ethanol-induced lipophagy was studied in an immortalized mouse hepatocyte line, AML12. They found that ethanol treatment elevated lipid content in these cells, which could be regulated by autophagy. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Xanthine Dehydrogenase Downregulation Promotes TGFβ Signaling and Cancer Stem Cell-Related Gene Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Researchers showed that low xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) mRNA levels were correlated with higher tumor stages and poorer prognoses in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Knocking down or inhibiting XDH promoted migration and invasion, but not proliferation of HCC cells. [Oncogenesis] Full Article

Ribosomal Proteins: Insight into Molecular Roles and Functions in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The authors describe the crucial role of ribosomes in various common malignant tumors; in particular, they examine the effects of ribosomal proteins, including S6, the receptor for activated C-kinase and RPS15A, on the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma. [Oncogene] Abstract

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Enanta Pharmaceuticals Announces New Data Presentations on EDP-305, an FXR Agonist for NASH and PBC

Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced new data presentations on EDP-305, Enanta’s lead farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist being developed for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), have been accepted for presentation. [Press release from Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. discussing research to be presented at the Liver Meeting^® 2017, Washington, D.C.] Press Release

Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Opdivo^® (Nivolumab) Receives FDA Approval for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Previously Treated with Sorafenib

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced the FDA has approved Opdivo injection for intravenous use for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who have been previously treated with sorafenib. [Bristol-Myers Squibb Company] Press Release

Enanta Announces that AbbVie’s MAVIRET™ (Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir) Received Approval in Japan for the Treatment of All Major Genotypes (GT1-6) of Chronic Hepatitis C

Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare approved AbbVie’s MAVIRET™, a once-daily, ribavirin-free treatment for adults with chronic hepatitis C virus infection across all major genotypes. [Enanta Pharmaceuticals Inc.] Press Release

FDA Accepts Supplemental New Drug Application for Eisai’s Lenvatinib for the Treatment of Liver Cancer

Eisai Inc. announced the FDA accepted for review a supplemental New Drug Application for lenvatinib (marketed as Lenvima^®) for the potential use in the first-line treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. [Eisai Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

How the Latest US Travel Ban Could Affect Science

Trump announced permanent travel restrictions on citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen. That list includes five Muslim-majority countries that were targeted in the White House’s first and second travel bans, which Trump signed in January and March. Those policies, which were designed as temporary measures, have been limited by a series of federal court rulings. [Nature News] Editorial

Researchers Caught in Growing Rift over Catalan Independence

Researchers have much at stake in the independence referendum, in defiance of Madrid’s central government. Nationalists trust that Catalan science would thrive in a nimbler, independent state of 7.5 million people and become a beacon of a new, progressive republic. Others fear that the secession would plunge science into isolating uncertainty, cut access to essential funding streams and networks, and spark a brain drain. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Senate Panel Blocks NIH from Revising Translational Research Awards

A congressional spending panel has backed scientists running a $516 million network of bench-to-bedside research centers in their fight with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, over how it manages the network. It’s the latest step in a long-running tug-of-war over the direction of the Clinical and Translational Science Awards program. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Canada Names New Chief Science Adviser

Mona Nemer, a cardiology researcher and vice-president of research at the University of Ottawa, has been named Canada’s new Chief Science Adviser by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW The 2018 World Stem Cell Summit (WSCS)
January 22-26, 2018
Miami, Florida, United States

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

NEW Hepatologist – Gastroenterology and Hepatology (The Liver Institute of Virginia)

NEW Faculty Position – Molecular Oncology (Moffitt Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Hepatocyte Models for Organ-on-a-Chip Platforms (University of Oslo)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Human Bile Duct Organoids (University of Edinburgh)

Faculty Position – Cancer Biology (Emory University Hospital)

Postdoctoral Positions – Cancer Research (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Biology (Georgetown University Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Tumor Immunology and Metastasis (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)

Research Scientist – Chronic Fibrotic and Metabolic Diseases (Gilead Sciences, Inc.)

Research Fellows – Cancer Research (National University of Singapore)

Multiple Positions – Cancer Research (National University of Singapore)

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