Hepatic Cell News Volume 2.37 | Sep 28 2018

TOP STORY

Blood Flow Forces Liver Growth

Mechanical forces created by the passage of blood through the liver activate signaling pathways that promote the production of angiocrine factors and the proliferation of the organ’s main cell type, hepatocytes, in mice. [Editorial from Nature News discussing online prepublication in Nature] Editorial | Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Alternative Splicing Rewires Hippo Signaling Pathway in Hepatocytes to Promote Liver Regeneration

Researchers demonstrated that ESRP2 deletion in mice caused excessive hepatocyte proliferation upon injury, whereas forced expression of ESRP2 inhibited proliferation by suppressing the expression of neonatal Hippo pathway isoforms. [Nat Struct Mol Biol] Abstract | Press Release

The Polyploid State Restricts Hepatocyte Proliferation and Liver Regeneration

Wild-type diploid cells showed a proliferative advantage, entering and progressing through the cell cycle faster than polyploid cells, both in vitro and during liver regeneration. [Hepatology] Abstract

Hypoxia-Induced TUFT1 Promotes the Growth and Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Activating the Ca²⁺/PI3K/AKT Pathway

Tuftelin1 (TUFT1) promoted hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell growth, metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in vitro and in vivo via activation of the Ca²⁺/PI3K/AKT pathway. Knockdown of TUFT1 blocked the effects of hypoxia in promoting HCC progression. [Oncogene] Abstract

Genipin Reverses HFD-Induced Liver Damage and Inhibits UCP2-Mediated Pyroptosis in Mice

Investigators found that high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice and free fatty acid (FFA)-treated hepatocytes had obvious pyroptosis, and addition of genipin reversed liver damage and inhibited pyroptosis both in vitro and in vivo. UCP2 knockdown cells showed suppressed FFA-mediated pyroptosis, as determined by decreased pyroptotic gene expression, reduced lactate dehydrogenase release, and reduced cell death. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article

Propofol Inhibits Proliferation, Migration, Invasion and Promotes Apoptosis through Down-Regulating miR-374a in Hepatocarcinoma Cell Lines

Propofol inhibited cell viability, migration and invasion but promoted apoptosis of HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells. miR-374a level was reduced by propofol, and TP53 was proven to be target of miR-374a in HepG2 cells. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article

Follistatin-Like Protein 5 Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression by Inducing Caspase-Dependent Apoptosis and Regulating Bcl-2 Family Proteins

Investigators found that follistatin-like protein 5 (FSTL5) expression was downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and positively correlated with the prognosis of patients with HCC at tumor node metastasis stage I/II. Overexpression of FSTL5 efficiently impaired HCC growth both in vivo and in vitro in an exogenous manner. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article

A Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Model in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Hepatocytes, Created by Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced Steatosis

Scientists identified a modulation of hepatic markers and gene pathways known to be involved in steatosis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, in support of a human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocyte disease model that was relevant to clinical data for human nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. [Dis Model Mech] Full Article

Human Hepatic 3D Spheroids as a Model for Steatosis and Insulin Resistance

Scientists report a human hepatic 3D spheroid system cultured under defined chemical conditions that had the potential to mimic steatotic conditions in a reversible manner, useful for identification of novel drug treatment conditions. [Sci Rep] Full Article

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

Apoptosis and Necroptosis in the Liver: A Matter of Life and Death

The authors summarize the underlying molecular mechanisms and open questions about disease-specific activation and roles of programmed cell death forms, their contribution to response signatures and their detection. They focus on the role of apoptosis and necroptosis in acute liver injury, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and liver cancer, and possible translations into clinical applications. [Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol] Abstract

Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: Continuing Challenges and Translational Advances

In addition to discussing challenges posed by this aggressive cancer, the authors emphasize recent epidemiological, basic and translational research findings for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. [Hepatology] Abstract

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

HighTide Therapeutics Receives Fast Track Designation from the U.S. FDA for HTD1801 Treating Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

HighTide Therapeutics Inc. announced that the FDA has granted Fast Track Designation to its investigational new drug, HTD1801, for the treatment of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. [HighTide Biopharmaceutical Ltd.] Press Release

Eiger Announces FDA Guidance on HDV Phase III Study Design: Primary Endpoint Established; D-LIVR Study Initiating Q4 2018

Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the receipt of written guidance from the FDA, confirming concurrence on a pivotal trial design, including the primary endpoint for D-LIVR, the first-ever, registration study for hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection. [Eiger BioPharmaceuticals] Press Release

F351 Liver Fibrosis Trial Shows Positive Efficacy

GNI Group Ltd. received a recommendation from the independent data monitoring committee reviewing the F351 drug candidate’s Phase II liver fibrosis trial in China to end the enrollment of new patients in the trial based on positive efficacy results achieved to date. [GNI Group Ltd.] Press Release

Genkyotex Exceeds Patient Enrollment Target in its Phase II Trial with GKT831 for Primary Biliary Cholangitis

Genkyotex announced the completion of enrollment in its Phase II trial of GKT831 in patients with primary biliary cholangitis. [Genkyotex] Press Release

What the Nobels Are — and Aren’t — Doing to Encourage Diversity

If a woman wins the Nobel Prize in Physics next week, she will be the first to do so in more than 50 years. Over the same period, just one woman has won in chemistry. [Nature News] Editorial

Finland Joins Europe’s Bold Open-Access Push

Finland’s national research funder has signed up to Plan S — a push by a group of European organizations to make a radical change to the way that research results are published. The Academy of Finland is the first organization to sign up since Plan S was launched by 11 funders earlier this month. [Nature News] Editorial

Tired of Male-Dominated Meetings, Leading Cancer Conference Makes Nearly All of Its Speakers Women

Calling out “manels”—all male panels at meetings—has been one way researchers concerned about gender equity have called attention to the frequent imbalance of men and women on scientific conference programs. Now, organizers of a meeting at a leading cancer institute in Germany have gone a step further. At the Frontiers in Cancer Research meeting early next month, 23 of the 28 invited speakers—or 82%—are women. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Argentina’s Economic Crisis Could Trigger Scientific ‘Collapse,’ Researchers Warn

Argentine scientists are deeply worried about the effects of the country’s economic crisis on science. The government has proposed cutting research budgets in 2019 as part of an austerity push and it is behind in its financial commitments to institutes for this year, which means many labs lack the funds to pay for day-to-day operations. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW AACR: The Hippo Pathway: Signaling, Cancer, and Beyond
May 8-11, 2019
San Diego, California, United States

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

NEW Group Leader – Organoid Modeling of Disease (European Molecular Biology Laboratory)

NEW Faculty Position – Biochemistry and/or Biophysics (University of Kansas Medical Center)

Scientist – In Vitro Pharmacology (Gubra)

Faculty Position – Cancer Biology (Children’s Research Institute at UT Southwestern)

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

Principal Investigator/Group Leader – Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (Foundation for Liver Research)

Postdoctoral Scholarship – Diabetes and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (University of Gothenburg)

Postdoctoral Biomedical Engineer – Human Liver Microphysiology Systems (University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute)

Assistant Professor – Basic and Translational Cancer Research (Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center)

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.