Hepatic Cell News Volume 1.42 | Nov 17 2017

TOP STORY

‘Mini Liver Tumors’ Created in a Dish for the First Time

Scientists have created mini biological models of human primary liver cancers, known as organoids, in the lab for the first time. The tiny laboratory models of tumors were used to identify a new drug that could potentially treat certain types of liver cancer. [Press release from the University of Cambridge discussing online prepublication in Nature Medicine] Press Release | Abstract | Video

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Arid1a Has Context-Dependent Oncogenic and Tumor Suppressor Functions in Liver Cancer

In some hepatocellular carcinoma patients, ARID1A was highly expressed in primary tumors but not in metastatic lesions, suggesting that ARID1A can be lost after initiation. Mice with liver-specific homozygous or heterozygous Arid1a loss were resistant to tumor initiation while ARID1A overexpression accelerated initiation. [Cancer Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Preventive Inhibition of Liver Tumorigenesis by Systemic Activation of Innate Immune Functions

While dissecting the roles of cytoplasmic signaling molecules in hepatocarcinogenesis using an inducible mouse gene targeting system, Mx1-cre, researchers identified a potent liver tumor-inhibitory effect of synthetic double-stranded RNA, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid, an inducer of the Mx1-cre system. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Bi-Directional Exosome-Driven Intercommunication between the Hepatic Niche and Cancer Cells

Investigators revealed a novel mechanism of regulation of the metastatic cascade, showing a well-orchestrated, timely controlled crosstalk between the cancer cells and the hepatic niche (HepN) and implicating the normal tissue/HepN derived exosomes in enabling seeding and entry into dormancy of the cancer cells at the metastatic site. [Mol Cancer] Full Article

FOXA2 Alleviates CCl₄-Induced Liver Fibrosis by Protecting Hepatocytes in Mice

The authors found that the abundance of Forkhead Box A2 (FOXA2) was significantly lower in fibrotic livers of patients and mice treated with CCl₄ than in controls. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Hyaluronic Acid 35 Normalizes TLR4 Signaling in Kupffer Cells from Ethanol-Fed Rats via Regulation of MicroRNA291b and Its Target Tollip

Researchers identified miR291b as a critical miRNA up-regulated by ethanol. Normalization of the miR291b → Tollip pathway by hyaluronic acid 35 ameliorated ethanol-induced sensitization of TLR4 signaling in macrophages/monocytes. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Modulation of Cell Death Pathways by Hepatitis C Virus Proteins in Huh7.5 Hepatoma Cells

Scientists present the results of simultaneous immunocytochemical analysis of markers of apoptosis, autophagy, and necrosis in Huh7.5 cells expressing individual hepatitis C virus proteins or their combinations, or harboring the virus replicon. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

SII Ang II Potentiates Insulin Receptor Signaling and Glycogen Synthesis in Hepatocytes

Investigators studied the effect of [Sar1, Ile4, Ile8]-angiotensin II (SII Ang II) on insulin receptor signaling and glucose metabolism in primary rat hepatocytes. They showed that long-term pre-treatment of hepatocytes with SII Ang II increased insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis, while Ang II and the angiotensin II type I receptor antagonist losartan had no effect. [Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol] Abstract

SOX9 Is a Proliferation and Stem Cell Factor in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Possess Widespread Prognostic Significance in Different Cancer Types

The authors determined the histological expression pattern of SOX9 in human hepatocellular carcinoma by immunohistochemistry and evaluated its prognostic value. [PLoS One] Full Article

Human Hepatocyte Transplantation for Liver Disease: Current Status and Future Perspectives

Over the last two decades hepatocyte transplantation has made the transition from bench to bedside. Clinical hepatocyte transplantation safety and short-term efficacy have been proven, however some major hurdles—mainly concerning shortage of donor organs, low cell engraftment and lack of long-lasting effect—need to be overcome to widen its clinical applications. [Pediatr Res] Abstract

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Ymir Genomics and the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute Announce Collaboration

Ymir Genomics, LLC and the Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) announced a strategic collaboration to develop urinary biomarkers that will help detect hepatocellular carcinoma in at-risk patient populations. [Ymir Genomics, LLC (PR Newswire Association LLC)] Press Release

Can-Fite’s Former Subsidiary OphthaliX Successfully Completes Merger with Wize Pharma

Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. announced that its previously majority owned subsidiary OphthaliX, Inc. has successfully completed a merger with Wize Pharma Ltd. [Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd.] Press Release

Cincinnati Children’s Launches Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine

Seven years ago Cincinnati Children’s scientists first used pluripotent stem cells to mimic natural human development and grow working human intestine in a lab. Now medical center doctors can bioengineer the gastrointestinal tissues of sick children to find clues about a child’s disease and how to treat it. [Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center] Press Release

FDA Announces Comprehensive Regenerative Medicine Policy Framework

The FDA announced a comprehensive policy framework for the development and oversight of regenerative medicine products, including novel cellular therapies. The framework – outlined in a suite of four guidance documents – builds upon the FDA’s existing risk-based regulatory approach to more clearly describe what products are regulated as drugs, devices, and/or biological products. [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] Press Release

African Scientists Get Their Own Open-Access Publishing Platform

Africa’s academy of science has announced that it will launch an open-access publishing platform — the first of its kind aimed exclusively at scientists on the continent. [Nature News] Editorial

Graduate Students Face Alarming Tax Hike

The last thing that graduate students need is a tax hike. But that is what many would face under a clause in the federal-tax-reform bill passed by the US House of Representatives. It will need to be reconciled with the Senate’s tax-reform bill (which retains many existing student tax benefits), and signed by the president. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW MDI Biological Laboratory: Applications of Organoid Technology
May 27-June 2, 2018
Bar Harbor, Maine, United States

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NEW Faculty Positions – Liver Health and Disease (University of Pittsburgh)

Principal Scientist – Liver Disease Research (Novo Nordisk)

Postdoctoral Position – Liver Disease (University of Illinois)

Biomedical Scientist – Molecular and Cellular Gastroenterology (Mayo Clinic)

PhD Studentships – Cancer Research (Institute of Cancer Research)

Faculty Position – Cancer Experimental Therapeutics (University of New Mexico)

Postdoctoral Position – 3D Organoid Mechanobiology (KU Leuven)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Liver Tissue Engineering (Massachusetts General Hospital)

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

Faculty Position – Molecular Oncology (Moffitt Cancer Center)

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