Hepatic Cell News Volume 2.33 | Aug 31 2018

TOP STORY

MicroRNA 193a-5p Regulates Levels of Nucleolar- and Spindle-Associated Protein 1 to Suppress Hepatocarcinogenesis

Researchers found nucleolar and spindle associated protein 1 (NUSAP1) to be a target of miR193A-5p; hepatocellular carcinoma cells and tissues with low levels of miR193A-5p had increased expression of NUSAP1. Knockdown of NUSAP1 in Huh7 cells reduced proliferation, survival, migration, and growth as xenograft tumors in nude mice. [Gastroenterology] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

The Innate Immune Receptor TREM-1 Promotes Liver Injury and Fibrosis

Deletion of Trem1 reduced liver injury, inflammatory cell infiltration, and fibrogenesis. Reconstitution of Trem1-deficient mice with Trem1-sufficient Kupffer cells restored recruitment of inflammatory monocytes and severity of liver injury. [J Clin Invest] Abstract | Full Article | Press Release

Nanomedicines Reveal How PBOV1 Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma for Effective Gene Therapy

Using theranostical nanomedicines, PBOV1 was verified to be a key oncogene which greatly promoted hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and stemness by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Cyclin E1 and Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2 Are Critical for Initiation, but Not for Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

E-type cyclins E1 (CcnE1)-driven hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) initiation was dependent on cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2). However, isolated primary hepatoma cells typically acquired independence on CcnE1 and Cdk2 with increasing progression in vitro, which was associated with a gene signature involving secondary induction of CcnE2 and up-regulation of cell cycle and DNA repair pathways. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

LncRNA CDKN2B-AS1 Promotes Tumor Growth and Metastasis of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Targeting let-7c-5p/NAP1L1 Axis

CDKN2B antisense RNA 1 (CDKN2B-AS1) knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and induced G1 arrest and apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells in vitro, and CDKN2B-AS1 silencing suppressed tumor growth and metastasis of HCC in vivo. CDKN2B-AS1 promoted nucleosome assembly protein 1 like 1 (NAP1L1) expression by sponging let-7c-5p, thereby activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in HCC cells. [Cancer Lett] Abstract

3D Human Liver Tissue from Pluripotent Stem Cells Displays Stable Phenotype In Vitro and Supports Compromised Liver Function In Vivo

In vitro generated 3D tissues exhibited stable phenotype for over one year in culture, providing an attractive resource for long-term in vitro studies. 3D derived tissue provided critical liver support in two animal models, including immunocompetent recipients. [Arch Toxicol] Full Article | Press Release

CX-4945 Induces Methuosis in Cholangiocarcinoma Cell Lines by a CK2-Independent Mechanism

Researchers showed that CX-4945 inhibited the proliferation of cholangiocarcinoma cell lines in vitro. Low doses of CX-4945 increased the invasive properties of cholangiocarcinoma cells due to an upregulation of matrix metallopeptidase 7, while the knockdown of CK2 inhibited cell invasion. [Cancers] Full Article

Ursodeoxycholate Inhibits Mast Cell Activation and Reverses Biliary Injury and Fibrosis in Mdr2^−/− Mice and Human Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

Ursodeoxycholic acid reduced mast cell number, the HDC/histamine/histamine receptor-axis, intrahepatic bile duct mass, hepatic stellate cell activation, inflammation, and fibrosis in Mdr2^−/− mice and primary sclerosing cholangitis patients. [Lab Invest] Abstract

Protective Effects of p-Coumaric Acid against Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice

Investigators found that p-Coumaric acid (PCA) ameliorated acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity as well as the reduced serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activity. They observed that PCA suppressed hepatic apoptosis via reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated DNA damage responses and inflammation by modulating the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling axis in an ROS-dependent manner. [Food Chem Toxicol] Abstract

Lysophosphatidylcholine Acyltransferase 3 Is Decreased in Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis, Resulting in Caspase-Independent Hepatocyte Death

Palmitate-induced cell death in Huh-7 cells with shRNA-mediated knockdown of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) acyltransferase 3 (LPCAT3) was attenuated by a combination of receptor-interactive protein kinase 1 inhibitor with pan-caspase inhibitor. In contrast, intracellular LPC and palmitate-induced cell death were significantly lower in LPCAT3-overexpressing Huh-7 cells than in wild-type cells. [J Gastroenterol Hepatol] Abstract

Subscribe to one of our other 19 science newsletters such as Intestinal Cell News & Pancreatic Cell News.

Liver Regeneration in Aged Mice: New Insights

The authors discuss how intracellular and extracellular factors cooperate to guarantee a proper liver regeneration and the possible causes of its impairment during aging. [Aging (Albany NY)] Full Article

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

Genkyotex Announces Completion of Enrollment in Interim Analysis Cohort of Phase II Trial of GKT831 in Primary Biliary Cholangitis

Genkyotex announced that 90 patients have been randomized in its Phase II trial of GKT831 for the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis. This represents the target number of patients required to conduct a pre-planned interim analysis. [Genkyotex] Press Release

Major Milestone Achieved with Full Recruitment of the Phase II Trial Evaluating Elafibranor in PBC

GENFIT announced the completion of enrollment in the Phase IIa trial evaluating elafibranor in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), a rare liver disease. GENFIT anticipates the release of top line data by end-of-year. [GENFIT] Press Release

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

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that it has completed dosing of a Phase I clinical study of ARO-AAT, the company’s second generation subcutaneously administered RNA interference therapeutic being developed as a treatment for a rare genetic liver disease associated with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. [Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Top UK Genomics Institute Investigates Bullying Allegations

An investigation into allegations of bullying is under way at one of the world’s top genomics centers — the Wellcome Sanger Institute in Hinxton, UK. According to The Guardian, which first reported on the investigation at Sanger, the complaints come from current and former staff members and include allegations against the institute’s director, geneticist Michael Stratton, who has been at the helm since 2010. [Nature News] Editorial

New Research: Financial Disclosure Lacking in Publication of Clinical Trials

A substantial proportion of pharmaceutical industry payments to authors of oncology clinical trials published in major scientific journals are not disclosed, new research shows. The publications focused on clinical trials that tested new cancer drugs. The new findings were published as a research letter in the journal JAMA Oncology. [OHSU] Editorial

NEW HCC Summit 2019
February 14-16, 2019
Lisbon, Portugal

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

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Non-Alcoholic SteatoHepatitis (University of Southern Denmark)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Metabolic Research (Umeå University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Liver and Pancreatic Carcinogenesis (City of Hope)

Senior Research Scientist – Peptide Drug Design & IP (Gubra)

Project Manager – Translational Research and Fundraising (University of Strasbourg)

Postdoctoral Fellow Positions – Metabolic Disorders (Temple University School of Medicine)

Research Faculty Position in Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism (University of Pittsburgh)

PhD Positions – Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (The Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology)

Postdoctoral Position – High-Throughput Functional Screening of iPSC-Derived Models (KU Leuven)

Postdoctoral Position – Liver Cancer Translational Research (IDIBAPS)

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

Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

Have we missed an important article or publication in Hepatic Cell News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.