Hepatic Cell News Volume 4.10 | Mar 20 2020

TOP STORY

Serine Catabolism Feeds NADH when Respiration Is Impaired

Through deuterium-tracing studies in cultured cells and mice, researchers showed that folate-dependent serine catabolism also produced substantial NADH. When respiration was impaired, serine catabolism through methylene tetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase became a major NADH source. [Cell Metab] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

A Novel Model of Liver Cancer Stem Cells Developed from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Investigators generated a new model of liver cancer stem cells by converting mouse induced pluripotent stem cells (miPSCs) with hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Huh7 cells conditioned medium (CM). miPSCs treated with CM were injected into the liver of BALB/c nude mice. [Br J Cancer] Full Article

Angiopoietin-2 Induces Angiogenesis via Exosomes in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Scientists detected the angiopoietin-2 (ANGPT2) expression in HCC-derived exosomes by immunoblotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunogold labeling, then observed exosomal ANGPT2 internalization and recycling by confocal laser scanning microscopy, co-immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting. [Cell Commun Signal] Full Article

Long Noncoding RNA SLC2A1-AS1 Regulates Aerobic Glycolysis and Progression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Inhibiting the STAT3/FOXM1/GLUT1 Pathway

The authors report that lncRNA SLC2A1-AS1 was frequently downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) samples, as shown by qRT-PCR analysis. SLC2A1-AS1 deletion was significantly associated with recurrence-free survival in HCC. [Mol Oncol] Abstract

Over-Expression of TFB2M Facilitates Cell Growth and Metastasis via Activating ROS-Akt-NF-κB Signaling in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The expression and clinical significance of mitochondrial transcription factor B2 (TFB2M) were evaluated by qRT-PCR and western blot analysis. The biological effects and underlying mechanisms of TFB2M in hepatocellular carcinoma were determined by cell proliferation, colony formation, cell cycle, apoptosis, migration, and invasion assays. [Liver Int] Abstract

Tethered Primary Hepatocyte Spheroids on Polystyrene Multi-Well Plates for High-Throughput Drug Safety Testing

Researchers addressed bottlenecks to the automation of hepatocyte spheroid culture by tethering 3D hepatocyte spheroids directly onto surface-modified polystyrene multi-well plates. Polystyrene surfaces were inert toward functionalization, and this made the uniform conjugation of bioactive ligands very challenging. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Gadolinium Labelled Nanoliposomes as the Platform for MRI Theranostics: In Vitro Safety Study in Liver Cells and Macrophages

Investigators evaluated nanosafety of gadolinium (Gd)-lip containing PE-DTPA chelating Gd⁺³ prepared by lipid film hydration method. They detected no cytotoxicity of Gd-lip in human liver cells including cancer HepG2, progenitor HepaRG, and differentiated HepaRG cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Conjugating Homogenized Liver-Extracellular Matrix into Decellularized Hepatic Scaffold for Liver Tissue Engineering

Researchers conjugated homogenized liver-extracellular matrix (ECM) into a decellularized liver in a rat model to improve its structural and functional properties. The homogenized ECM was prepared, characterized, and subsequently perfused into ethyl carbodiimide hydrochloride/N-hydroxysuccinimide activated liver scaffolds. [Biomed Mater Res] Abstract

Loss of Glp2r Signaling Activates Hepatic Stellate Cells and Exacerbates Diet-Induced Steatohepatitis in Mice

Both mouse and human liver expressed the canonical GLP-2R, and hepatic Glp2r expression was upregulated in mice with hepatosteatosis. Cell fractionation localized the Glp2r to hepatic stellate cells (HSC), and markers of HSC activation and fibrosis were increased in livers from Glp2r^-/- mice. [JCI Insight] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

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

Lysyl Oxidase (LOX) Family Members: Rationale and Their Potential as Therapeutic Targets for Liver Fibrosis

The inhibition of the LOX family as a whole and of LOX, LOXL1 and LOXL2 specifically has been shown to suppress fibrosis progression and accelerate its reversal in rodent models of cardiac, renal, pulmonary and liver fibrosis. [Hepatology] Abstract

The Cancer Stem Cell in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Dissecting and understanding the biology of cancer stem cells (CSCs) should translate into new clinical therapeutic approaches. The authors review the CSC concept in cancer, with a special focus on hepatocellular carcinoma. [Cancers] Full Article

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

Inventiva Announces Completion of Patient Visits for Its Phase IIb Clinical Study with Lanifibranor in NASH

Inventiva, Inc. announced the last visit of the last patient out of the 247 patients enrolled in its Phase IIb clinical study with lanifibranor in NASH. [Inventiva, Inc.] Press Release

Arch Biopartners Safely Completes Expanded Dosing of Metablok in Phase I Human Trial and Begins Focus on Phase II Trial

Arch Biopartners, Inc. announced that it has safely completed dosing of the final eight healthy volunteers in its Phase I human trial of Metablok. This final group received the highest daily dose of Metablok tested to date for three consecutive days and met the primary endpoints of safety and tolerability. [Arch Biopartners Inc.] Press Release

US Food And Drug Administration Approves Epclusa^® (Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir) for Children Ages 6 and Older or Weighing at Least 17 kg with Chronic Hepatitis C Infection

Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved a supplemental New Drug Application for Epclusa^® for the treatment of people with chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection as young as six years of age or weighing at least 17 kg, regardless of HCV genotype or liver disease severity. [Gilead Sciences, Inc.] Press Release

Amid Coronavirus Shutdowns, Some Grad Students Feel Pressure to Report to Their Labs

As the coronavirus outbreak roils university campuses across the world, early-career scientists are facing several dilemmas. Many are worrying about the survival of cell cultures, laboratory animals, and other projects critical to their career success. And some are reporting feeling unwelcome pressure to report to their laboratories. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Universities Urge US Leaders to Boost Science Budgets by 15%, Ease Rules to Cope With Pandemic

The US research community is urgently asking the White House and Congress to take steps aimed at keeping academic research-as well as museums, botanic gardens, and zoos-afloat during the coronavirus pandemic. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

US Primate Centers Work to Protect Animals from COVID-19

Like humans, monkeys are vulnerable to the virus behind the COVID-19 pandemic, although their symptoms are not entirely the same. This has opened up opportunities to study SARS-CoV-2, but has also meant facilities need to institute extensive precautions to prevent unintended contagion, particularly now as the researchers plan nonhuman primate experiments to aid in the development of coronavirus treatments and vaccines. [The Scientist] Editorial

In light of COVID-19, many conferences are being cancelled or postponed. As such:

We are suspending new event postings in our newsletters and on Twitter.
We will strive to keep our current event listings updated with event status.
We encourage you to visit event sites directly for updates.

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

NEW Postdoctoral Position – MEtabolic Diseases (University of Southern Denmark)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Liver Pathogenesis (Washington University in St.Louis)

NEW Therapuetic Specialist – Inflammation (Gilead Sciences Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellow – The Microbiome in Liver Disease (University of Oslo)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Liver Pathogenesis (Washington University in St. Louis)

Senior Postdoctoral Research Assistant – Liver Research (University of Dundee)

Postdoctoral Researchers – Diabetes, Liver, and Renal Disease (University of Oxford)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Fatty Liver Dieases (University of Kansas Medical Center)

Team Leader – Cholangiocytes (Miromatrix Medical)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Diabetes and Fatty Liver Disease (NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood 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.