Hepatic Cell News Volume 2.10 | Mar 16 2018

TOP STORY

Single Particle Imaging of Polarized Hepatoma Organoids upon Hepatitis C Virus Infection Reveals an Ordered and Sequential Entry Process

Researchers imaged hepatitis C virus entry into a three-dimensional polarized hepatoma system and revealed that the virus sequentially engages these entry factors through actin-dependent mechanisms. [Cell Host Microbe] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Tyrosine Kinase SYK Is a Potential Therapeutic Target for Liver Fibrosis

The effects of spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) antagonism on liver fibrogenesis were studied in LX-2 cells, TWNT-4 cells, primary human hepatic stellate cells, and three progressive fibrosis/cirrhosis animal models, including a carbon tetrachloride mouse model, and diethylnitrosamine and bile duct ligation rat models. [Hepatology] Abstract

Notch2 Controls Hepatocyte-Derived Cholangiocarcinoma Formation in Mice

In vitro studies revealed that Notch2 silencing in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines down-regulates the expression of Sox9 and EpCAM biliary markers. [Oncogene] Full Article

LncFZD6 Initiates Wnt/β-Catenin and Liver TIC Self-Renewal through BRG1-Mediated FZD6 Transcriptional Activation

Investigators examined the expression pattern of 10 Wnt receptors, and found only FZD6 is overexpressed along with liver tumorigenesis. A divergent lncRNA of FZD6, termed lncFZD6, is also highly expressed in liver cancer and liver tumor-initiating cells. [Oncogene] Full Article

Histone Deacetylase 3 Promotes Liver Regeneration and Liver Cancer Cells Proliferation through Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 Signaling Pathway

Using an inducible hepatocyte-selective histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) knockout mouse, the authors found that lack of HDAC3 dramatically impaired liver regeneration and blocked hepatocyte proliferation in the G1 phase entry. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Benzbromarone Aggravates Hepatic Steatosis in Obese Individuals

An in vitro experiment using human hepatoma HepG2 cells confirmed that benzbromarone promoted intracellular lipid accumulation under high free fatty acids conditions by regulating the expression of lipid metabolism genes. [Biochim Biophys Acta] Abstract

Trichostatin A Inhibits the Activation of Hepatic Stellate Cells by Increasing C/EBP-α Acetylation In Vivo and In Vitro

Researchers investigated how CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α acetylation affects the fate of activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Effects of a histone deacetylation inhibitor trichostatin A on HSC activation were evaluated in a mouse model of liver fibrosis caused by carbon tetrachloride intoxication. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Evaluation of the Selective Toxic Effect of the Charge Switchable Diethyldithiocarbamate-Loaded Nanoparticles between Hepatic Normal and Cancerous Cells

Coated nanoparticles showed the highest selective apoptosis-mediated toxicity only in murine hepatoma cells that may attribute to suppression of NF-κB expression and aldehyde dehydrogenase A1 activity, subsequently collapsing 89.7% CD133⁺ cancer stem cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Tumor-Promoting Cyanotoxin Microcystin-LR Does Not Induce Procarcinogenic Events in Adult Human Liver Stem Cells

HL1-hT1 cells were found to express mesenchymal markers and an early hepatic endoderm marker FOXA2, while not expressing hepatic progenitor or differentiated hepatocyte markers. [Toxicol Appl Pharmacol] Abstract

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Precision Medicine in Human Liver Disease

Liver-like human cells can be generated from human skin by converting fibroblasts to “induced pluripotent stem cells” (iPSCs), then differentiating the iPSCs into “induced hepatocytes”. Although still primarily used as a research tool, emerging applications involving iPSC-derived induced hepatocytes have exciting and provocative clinical and translational potential. [J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr] Abstract

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

Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research at NYU Meyers Receives $7.5 Million in NIH Funding, Marking Center’s 20^th Anniversary

The National Institute for Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health, has awarded NYU Meyers’ Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research a five-year, nearly $7.5 million grant to continue the center’s research. [New York University] Press Release

MYR Pharma Completes Clinical Trial of Myrcludex B in Chronic Hepatitis Delta

MYR Pharma GmbH announced the completion of its MYR 202 clinical trial, a Phase IIb study investigating Myrcludex B in chronic hepatitis Delta, the most severe form of viral hepatitis that currently has no satisfactory treatment options. [MYR Pharma GmbH (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Inovio’s DNA Immunotherapy Demonstrates Immune Response Results Key in Treating Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that interim Phase I results show its DNA immunotherapy designed to treat hepatitis B virus infection was safe, well-tolerated and generated virus-specific T cells, including CD8⁺ killer T cells, meeting the objectives of the clinical study. [Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Arrowhead Begins Dosing in Phase I Study of ARO-AAT for Treatment of Alpha-1 Liver Disease

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that it has dosed the first subjects in a Phase I clinical study of ARO-AAT, which is being developed as treatment for a rare genetic liver disease associated with alpha-1 antitrypsin [Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc.] Press Release

Exelixis Submits U.S. Supplemental New Drug Application for CABOMETYX^® (Cabozantinib) for Previously Treated Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Exelixis, Inc. announced it has completed the submission of a supplemental New Drug Application to the FDA for CABOMETYX^® tablets as a treatment for patients with previously treated advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. [Exelixis, Inc.] Press Release

Scientists Beware: The Price Is High, the Payoff Uncertain at Glossy Publications Aimed at Europe’s Decision-Makers

Van der Heyden isn’t the only European researcher to get a hard sell from Pan European Networks, a six-year-old publishing company with offices in Congleton, U.K., and Brussels that promises to provide opportunities for “leading figures from across Europe” to get attention for their work or ideas. Many other scientists had similar experiences, Van der Heyden discovered when he started poking around on blogs and Twitter, including the promise of attention from decision-makers and the warning about the imminent board meeting. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

‘Right-to-Try’ Bill Rejected by House, in Major Blow to GOP Efforts

In a major blow to the effort to pass a federal “right-to-try” law, House Republicans failed to muster the votes to pass a key compromise measure. [STAT News] Editorial

Springer Nature and VSNU Renew Agreement on Open Access Publishing

Springer Nature and the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU) have renewed their agreement to secure open access publishing for Dutch universities up to 2021. [The Association of Universities in the Netherlands] Editorial

Science ‘Champion’ Dan Lipinski Faces Tough Race in Illinois Primary

Representative Daniel Lipinski—an anti-abortion Democrat who voted against the Affordable Care Act and who only recently has embraced a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants—knows that he’s out of step with progressives on many social issues. Lipinski will find out whether voters in Illinois’s third congressional district on Chicago’s southwest side feel there’s still room for him in the Democratic Party. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW 6^th Cambridge International Stem Cell Symposium
September 19-21, 2018
Cambridge, United Kingdom

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

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Cancer, Immunotherapy, and Fibrosis (University of Alabama at Birmingham)

NEW Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Liver Cancer Pathogenesis and Immunobiology (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Human Liver Function (Karolinska Institutet)

NEW Postdoctoral Research Associate – Hepatitis B Virology (Imperial College London)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Viral Vectored Vaccines for Hepatitis Infections (University of Oxford)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Liver Diseases (University of Illinois at Chicago)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure (Foundation for Liver Research)

Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Cancer Research (Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute)

Global Clinical Lead – Oncology (AstraZeneca)

Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute)

Lectureship – Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (University of Edinburgh)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Liver Cancer Research (University of California, San Francisco)

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