Expression of ADAMTS-1, ADAMTS-4, ADAMTS-5 and TIMP3 by hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines.

Little is known about the expression or role of ADAMTS-1, -4 and -5 and their endogenous inhibitor TIMP3 in the liver in physiological and pathological conditions. Their expression was, therefore, investigated in the hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines HepG2 and HuH-7 using qRT-PCR and western blotting, and their cellular localisation by immunocytochemistry. Cytokine treatments were used to assess mRNA and protein modulation.

Effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines on the production of soluble fractalkine and ADAM17 by HepG2 cells.

Background & Aims: Soluble fractalkine is increased in the liver during times of injury; however the effect of pro-inflammatory cytokines in this process is currently unknown. The aim of this study was to determine whether pro-inflammatory cytokines elevated in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma influence fractalkine shedding from HepG2 cells and whether ADAM17 was involved in this process.

Methods: In vitro experiments were performed in the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2.

Biology of colorectal liver metastases: A review.

Metastatic growth is a selective, non-random process, which in the case of colorectal cancer, frequently occurs in the liver and is the major cause of cancer related death in these patients. This review summarises attempts to find biological and molecular markers of metastasis and their role in establishment of secondary tumours. Recent evidence suggests that liver metastases are phenotypically different to the primary from which they were derived and thus represent a separate disease entity.

Early increases in plasminogen activator activity following partial hepatectomy in humans.

BACKGROUND: Increases in urokinase-like plasminogen activator (uPA) activity are reported to be amongst the earliest events occurring in remnant liver following partial hepatectomy in rats, and have been proposed as a key component of the regenerative response. Remodelling of the extracellular matrix, conversion of single chain hepatocyte growth factor to the active two-chain form and a possible activation of a mitogenic signalling pathway have all been ascribed to the increased uPA activity. The present study aimed to determine whether similar early increases in uPA activity could be detected in the remnant liver following resection of metastatic tumours in surgical patients.

The molecular physiology of liver regeneration following partial hepatectomy.

The ability of the liver to regenerate after resection has been known for many years. Two reports from Germany in the late 1800s probably mark the introduction of the phenomenon into the scientific literature, but in the early 1900s the first reviews of this subject had appeared in the English literature. Predating these early scientific reports the legends from the Greek mythology described the fate of Prometheus.