Role of Hepatocyte-Derived Osteopontin in Liver Carcinogenesis.

Osteopontin (OPN) expression correlates with tumor progression in many cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, its role in the onset of HCC remains unclear. We hypothesized that increased hepatocyte-derived OPN is a driver of hepatocarcinogenesis. Analysis of a tissue microarray of 366 human samples revealed a continuous increase in OPN expression during hepatocarcinogenesis.

Vitamin D regulates prostate cell metabolism via genomic and non-genomic mitochondrial redox-dependent mechanisms.

Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased risk for aggressive prostate cancer (PCa). Prostate epithelium has a unique metabolism compared to other tissues. Normal prostate exhibits low levels of mitochondrial respiration and there is a metabolic switch to increased oxidative phosphorylation in PCa.

Aminoguanidine reduces diabetes-associated cardiac fibrosis.

Aminoguanidine (AG) inhibits advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) accumulated as a result of excessive oxidative stress in diabetes. However, the molecular mechanism by which AG reduces AGE-associated damage in diabetes is not well understood. Thus, we investigated whether AG supplementation mitigates oxidative-associated cardiac fibrosis in rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Osteopontin deletion drives hematopoietic stem cell mobilization to the liver and increases hepatic iron contributing to alcoholic liver disease.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of osteopontin (OPN) in hematopoietic stem cell (HPSC) mobilization to the liver and its contribution to alcoholic liver disease (ALD). We analyzed young (14-16 weeks) and old (>1.5 years) wild-type (WT) littermates and global knockout ( ) mice for HPSC mobilization to the liver.

Mitochondria targeting by environmental stressors: Implications for redox cellular signaling.

Mitochondria are cellular powerhouses as well as metabolic and signaling hubs regulating diverse cellular functions, from basic physiology to phenotypic fate determination. It is widely accepted that reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in mitochondria participate in the regulation of cellular signaling, and that some mitochondria chronically operate at a high ROS baseline. However, it is not completely understood how mitochondria adapt to persistently high ROS states and to environmental stressors that disturb the redox balance.

Key Events Participating in the Pathogenesis of Alcoholic Liver Disease.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It ranges from fatty liver to steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.The most prevalent forms of ALD are alcoholic fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis (AH) and alcoholic cirrhosis, which frequently progress as people continue drinking.