Development of Conformational Antibodies to Detect Bcl-xL's Amyloid Aggregates in Metal-Induced Apoptotic Neuroblastoma Cells.

Bcl-xL, a member of the Bcl-2 family, is a pro-survival protein involved in apoptosis regulation. We have previously reported the ability of Bcl-xL to form various types of fibers, from native to amyloid conformations. Here, we have mimicked the effect of apoptosis-induced caspase activity on Bcl-xL by limited proteolysis using trypsin.

Genetic variations in toll-like receptors 7 and 8 modulate natural hepatitis C outcomes and liver disease progression.

Background & Aims: The natural outcomes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) as well as the progression of the liver disease are highly variable and depend primarily on an efficient immune response. As toll-like receptors seven (TLR7) and eight (TLR8) are important effectors of the innate immunity, this study aims to evaluate the association between TLR7 and TLR8 polymorphisms and the HCV infection outcomes in Moroccan subjects.

Methods: In this case-control study, 643 subjects including 293 mild chronic hepatitis patients, 119 with advanced liver disease (AdLD), 93 with HCV spontaneous clearance and 138 healthy controls were genotyped using TaqMan SNPs assays.

The -94Ins/DelATTG polymorphism in NFκB1 promoter modulates chronic hepatitis C and liver disease progression.

Infection with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is one of the most important risk factor of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCV is suspected to induce HCC primarily through chronic inflammation and promotion of cirrhosis, a well-known pre-neoplastic condition. The NF-κB pathway is a key regulator of immune and inflammatory processes and plays a pivotal role in oncogenesis.

Genetic variation in the interleukin-28B gene is associated with spontaneous clearance and progression of hepatitis C virus in Moroccan patients.

Background: Genetic variation in the IL28B gene has been strongly associated with treatment outcomes, spontaneous clearance and progression of the hepatitis C virus infection (HCV). The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of polymorphisms at this locus with progression and outcome of HCV infection in a Moroccan population.

Methods: We analyzed a cohort of 438 individuals among them 232 patients with persistent HCV infection, of whom 115 patients had mild chronic hepatitis and 117 had advanced liver disease (cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma), 68 individuals who had naturally cleared HCV and 138 healthy subjects.