Interaction of CD44 and hyaluronic acid enhances biliary epithelial proliferation in cholestatic livers.

Biliary epithelia express high levels of CD44 in hepatobiliary diseases. The role of CD44-hyaluronic acid interaction in biliary pathology, however, is unclear. A rat model of hepatic cholestasis induced by bile duct ligation was employed for characterization of hepatic CD44 expression and extracellular hyaluronan distribution.

A method of isolation and culture of microvascular endothelial cells from mouse skin.

Objectives: The study of isolated microvascular endothelial cells from mice has long been impeded due to the many difficulties encountered in isolating and culturing these cells. We focused on developing a method to isolate microvascular endothelial cells from the skin fragments of newborn mice. We also aimed at establishing optimal culture conditions to sustain the growth of these cells.

IL8 release, tight junction and cytoskeleton dynamic reorganization conducive to permeability increase are induced by dengue virus infection of microvascular endothelial monolayers.

Permeability alterations of microvascular endothelia may be a factor in the plasma leakage produced by dengue virus infection. Confluent monolayers of the human dermal microvascular endothelial cell line HMEC-1 were utilized as an experimental model to study the cellular responses induced by the virus. Infected monolayers showed increased permeability for [(3)H]mannitol, but no changes were observed for 4-70 kDa dextrans at 48 h post-infection (p.