Hepatic Cell News Volume 2.19 | May 25 2018

TOP STORY

SHP-1 Acts as a Tumor Suppressor in Hepatocarcinogenesis and HCC Progression

Overexpression of Src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase 1 (SHP-1) suppressed proliferation, migration, invasion and tumorigenicity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells, whereas knockdown of SHP-1 enhanced the malignant phenotype. [Cancer Res] Abstract

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NUDT21 Negatively Regulates PSMB2 and CXXC5 by Alternative Polyadenylation and Contributes to Hepatocellular Carcinoma Suppression

Researchers found that NUDT21 knockdown increases usage of the proximal polyadenylation site in the PSMB2 and CXXC5 3′ UTRs, resulting in marked increase in the expression of PSMB2 and CXXC5. Moreover, knockdown of PSMB2 or CXXC5 suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and invasion. [Oncogene] Abstract

Tumor-Derived Exosomes Promote Tumor Self-Seeding in Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Transferring miRNA-25-5p to Enhance Cell Motility

Scientists observed tumor self-seeding in mouse xenograft models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for the first time. Horizontal transfer of exosomal microRNA-25-5p to anoikis-resistant HCC cells significantly enhanced their migratory and invasive abilities, whereas inhibiting microRNA-25-5p alleviated these effects. [Oncogene] Abstract

Plasmodium Parasite Exploits Host Aquaporin-3 during Liver Stage Malaria Infection

Scientists found that expression of aquaporin-3 (AQP3), a water and glycerol channel, is significantly induced in Plasmodium-infected hepatocytes compared to uninfected cells. Depletion or elimination of host AQP3 expression significantly reduced Plasmodium berghei parasite burden during the liver stage and chemical disruption by a known AQP3 inhibitor, auphen, reduced Plasmodium falciparum asexual blood stage and P. berghei liver stage parasite load. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article | Press Release

MicroRNA-125b Promotes Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation and Liver Fibrosis by Activating RhoA Signaling

Investigators showed that miR-125b was upregulated in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), but not in hepatocytes, during hepatic fibrogenesis in vivo and upon culture activation in vitro. Overexpression of miR-125b in HSCs enhanced RhoA activity by directly targeting StAR-related lipid transfer domain containing 13, a RhoA-specific GTPase-activating protein, whereas knockdown of miR-125b abrogated RhoA activation. [Mol Ther Nucleic Acids] Full Article

Modeling Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Human Hepatocyte-Like Cells

The authors developed a model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease using hepatocyte-like cells exposed to lactate, pyruvate and octanoic acid that bear all the hallmarks, including 5-hydroxymethylcytosine profiles, of liver functionality. [Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci] Abstract | Full Article

TRIM50 Suppressed Hepatocarcinoma Progression through Directly Targeting SNAIL for Ubiquitous Degradation

Researchers showed that tripartite motif-containing 50 (TRIM50) expression was significantly decreased in liver cancer tissues compared with corresponding non-cancerous liver tissues, and its decreased expression was significantly correlated with advanced disease progression. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Long Non-Coding RNA Gm2199 Rescues Liver Injury and Promotes Hepatocyte Proliferation through the Upregulation of ERK1/2

Gm2199 was downregulated in both damaged livers and hepatocyte lines. Overexpression of Gm2199 restored the reduced proliferation of damaged hepatocyte lines and increased the expression of ERK1/2. Overexpression of Gm2199 also promoted the proliferation and viability of normal hepatocyte lines and increased the level of p-ERK1/2. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

BMP-2 Restoration Aids in Recovery from Liver Fibrosis by Attenuating TGF-β1 Signaling

Researchers investigated the function and mechanism of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) in regulation of hepatic fibrogenesis. Aside from its suppressive effects on cell proliferation and migration, BMP-2 treatment prominently attenuated the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-stimulated α-SMA and fibronectin expression, and reversed the TGF-β1-modulated epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition marker expression in mouse hepatic stellate cells. [Lab Invest] Abstract

Obeticholic Acid Protects against Hepatocyte Death and Liver Fibrosis in a Murine Model of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Treatment with obeticholic acid effectively prevented chronic inflammation and liver fibrosis in Western diet-fed melanocortin 4 receptor-deficient mice with only marginal effect on body weight and hepatic steatosis. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Distinctiveness in Virological Features and Pathogenic Potentials of Subgenotypes D1, D2, D3 and D5 of Hepatitis B Virus

Expressions of viral/host genes were evaluated in Huh7 cells transfected with full-length, linear-monomers of hepatitis B virus/D-subgenotypes or pGL3-Basic vector carrying subgenotype-specific HBx. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Role of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Inflammation

The authors discuss current knowledge on the role peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) in the hepatic inflammatory process involved in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease as well as new pharmacological strategies that target PPARs. [Cell Mol Life Sci] Abstract

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

Eisai and Merck Provide Update on Supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Lenvatinib in First-Line Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Eisai Inc. and Merck announced that the FDA has extended the action date for the sNDA for lenvatinib for the potential first-line treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. [Esai Co., Ltd.] Press Release

Genoscience Pharma Extends Its First Clinical Trial of GN561 in Patients with Advanced Liver Cancers to France

Genoscience Pharma announced the extension to France of its first-in-human Phase Ib/IIa clinical study using the oral small molecule GNS561 in advanced liver cancers. [Genoscience Pharma] Press Release

Italy’s New Prime Minister Defended Discredited Stem Cell Therapy

The electoral victory of two populist parties in March had Italian scientists worried that a new era of antiscientific policies might be around the corner—and appointment of Giuseppe Conte as the country’s new prime minister is making some even more nervous. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Scientist Who Received Millions from NIH Leaves Alabama Posts

A professor who received about $5 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health left his posts at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, and Birmingham VA Medical Center last year after an investigation found evidence of image manipulation in 20 of his papers, Retraction Watch has learned. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Conference
October 23-24, 2018
New York, New York, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral/Project Leader – Hepatitis B and D Virus Research (University of Strasbourg)

Research Technologist – Liver Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Cancer Biology (Penn State College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Liver Injury, Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Metabolic Liver Diseases (University of Rhode Island)

Postdoctoral Position – Necroptosis in Liver Diseases (Inserm)

EBPOD Fellowship – NAFLD/NASH (European Molecular Biology Laboratory)

Academic Position – Cancer Research (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center)

Tenure-Track Faculty Position – Cancer Research (University of Ottawa)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Liver Disease and Injury (University of Pittsburgh)

PhD Student – Hepatology and Cancer Biology (German Cancer Research Center)

Research Fellow – Liver Tumorigenesis (Harvard School of Dental Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Alcoholic Liver Disease (University of North Carolina at Greensboro)

Postdoctoral Position – Inflammation and Metabolism (Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute)

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

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