Hepatic Cell News Volume 2.22 | Jun 15 2018

TOP STORY

Efficacy of Annexin A3 Blockade in Sensitizing Hepatocellular Carcinoma to Sorafenib and Regorafenib

Functional effects of annexin A3 (ANXA3) in conferring sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells were analyzed in apoptotic and tumorigenicity assays. Overexpression of ANXA3 in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells suppressed PKCδ/p38 associated apoptosis and activated autophagy for cell survival. [J Hepatol] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Long Noncoding RNA HULC Accelerates Liver Cancer by Inhibiting PTEN via Autophagy Cooperation to miR15a

HULC accelerated malignant progression of liver cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. HULC inhibited PTEN through ubiquitin-proteasome system mediated by autophagy-P62. HULC increased the expression of P62 via decreasing mature miR15a. [Mol Cancer] Full Article

Inflammasome Activation in Kupffer Cells Confers a Protective Response in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis through Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor Expression

Investigators identified pigment epithelium-derived factor, a secreted, moonlighting hepatokine as one hepatoprotective agent in mice with diet-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. [FASEB J] Abstract

TRIM52 Up-Regulation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Promotes Proliferation, Migration and Invasion through the Ubiquitination of PPM1A

Tripartite motif containing 52 (TRIM52) was found interacted with Mg²⁺/Mn²⁺ dependent 1A (PPM1A) and TRIM52 down-regulation inhibited the ubiquitination of PPM1A. PPM1A up-regulation in MHCC-97L cells significantly suppressed TRIM52-mediated enhancement on cell proliferation, invasion and migration. [J Exp Clin Cancer Res] Full Article

NF-кB Increases LPS-Mediated Procalcitonin Production in Human Hepatocytes

Scientists identified the signaling pathway by which the expression of procalcitonin (PCT) was induced by lipopolysaccharide in human hepatocytes at the mRNA and protein levels. This expression was dependent on nuclear transcription factor κB (NF-κB), as indicated by a NF-κB binding site found in the PCT promoter region. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Novel Pregnenolone Derivatives Modulate Apoptosis via Bcl-2 Family Genes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma In Vitro

A series of pregnenolone derivatives were synthesized and assessed for anti-cancer activity against a hepatocellular carcinoma cell line. [J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol] Abstract

Caveolin-1 Scaffolding Domain Peptides Alleviate Liver Fibrosis by Inhibiting TGF-β1/Smad Signaling in Mice

After carbon tetrachloride administration, caveolin-1 deficient (Cav1^−/−) mice showed enhanced transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) signaling, as reflected by a significantly greater amount of phosphorylation of Smad2 and collagen deposition in livers over wild type (WT) animals. Investigators observed a significant decrease in collagen content in Cav1^−/− and WT animals administrated with Cav1 scaffolding domain peptides. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

Upregulation of IL-6 Is Involved in Moderate Hyperthermia Induced Proliferation and Invasion of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

Silencing of IL-6, while not IL-10, attenuated moderate hyperthermia treatment induced proliferation and cell invasion. Data revealed the inhibition of NF-κB, while not ERK1/2 or PI3K/Akt, abolished moderate hyperthermia treatment induced production of IL-6. [Eur J Pharmacol] Abstract

Curcumin Inhibits Liver Cancer by Inhibiting DAMP Molecule HSP70 and TLR4 Signaling

Curcumin inhibited proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of HepG2 cells, caused cells to remain in the DNA S phase, promoted apoptosis, and significantly reduced intracellular heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), extracellular HSP70 and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) levels of thermal tolerance HepG2 cells. [Oncol Rep] Abstract

Oct4 Promotes Cancer Cell Proliferation and Migration and Leads to Poor Prognosis Associated with the Survivin/STAT3 Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The loss of octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4) inhibited hepatocellular carcinoma cell malignant progression accompanied by downregulated expression of the survivin/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway. [Oncol Rep] Abstract

PARP1 Activation Increases Expression of Modified Tumor Suppressors and Pathways Underlying Development of Aggressive Hepatoblastoma

Researchers identified unique aggressive liver cancer domains that were activated in aggressive hepatoblastoma by PARP1-mediated chromatin remodeling leading to elevation of modified tumor suppressor proteins and activation of additional cancer pathways: WNT signaling and β-catenin. [Commun Biol] Full Article

Mouse Models of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: An Overview and Highlights for Immunotherapy Research

This review provides an overview of the different mouse models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), presenting techniques to prepare an HCC mouse model and discussing different approaches to help researchers choose an appropriate model for a specific hypothesis. Specific aspects of immunotherapy research in HCC and the applied mouse models in this field are also highlighted. [Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol] Abstract

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

Grant Funds Collaborative Project to Find New Treatments for Liver Cancer

Researchers with the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine received a $3 million grant to use computational modeling and software to understand biological data, in combination with unique in vitro and animal studies, to better treat liver cancer. [Johns Hopkins Medicine] Press Release

Ascletis Receives NDA Approval from China FDA for Ganovo

Ascletis announced that China Food and Drug Administration has approved its Category I new drug, Ganovo, for the treatment of viral hepatitis C. Ganovo is the first direct-acting anti-viral agent developed by a domestic company in China and has been selected as a National Science and Technology Major Project for “Innovative Drug Development”. [Ascletis Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Galmed’s 600 mg Aramchol^™ Achieved a Regulatory Approvable Endpoint Showing NASH Resolution without Worsening of Fibrosis, in NASH Patients, in the Global Phase IIb ARREST 52-Week Study

Galmed Pharmaceuticals Ltd. announced top-line, 52-week results from the global Phase IIb ARREST study. [Galmed Pharmaceuticals Ltd.] Press Release

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Provides Update on Tepotinib Phase II Results in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany announced positive results from two Phase II clinical trials of its investigational, targeted oncology molecule tepotinib in MET-positive, advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with Child-Pugh Class A liver function. [Merck KGaA] Press Release

ContraVir Pharmaceuticals Announces the Approval of the IND and Initiation of the Clinical Development Program of CRV431 in the United States

ContraVir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the initiation of the clinical development program of CRV431, pursuant to the acceptance of the Investigational New Drug (IND) application by the FDA. [ContraVir Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Learn the basics of culturing mouse intestinal organoids with an instructional video series. Watch the Video Now

New Zealand Appoints First Female Chief Scientific Adviser

The New Zealand government has appointed biochemist Juliet Gerrard as its next chief scientific adviser — the first woman to hold the position. [Nature News] Editorial

Bill to Encourage Generic-Drug Development Passes a Key Hurdle

A key Senate committee voted to advance legislation that aims to spur the development of new generic drugs and in turn, lower drug prices. [Stat News] Editorial

House Bill Gives NIH a 3% Boost in 2019, to $38.3 Billion

A draft bill released by a House of Representatives spending panel would give the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, a $1.25 billion raise in 2019, to $38.3 billion. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Therapeutic Agents for Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH – TAG) 2019
January 3-6, 2019
Park City, Utah, United States

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Liver Cancer (Loyola University Chicago)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Gene Regulatory Mechanisms (University of California, Berkeley)

Group Leader – Systems Biology (Center for Systems Biology Dresden)

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

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)

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

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

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