A novel autoantibody targeting calreticulin is associated with cancer in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and clinical significance of anti-calreticulin autoantibodies (anti-CRT Ab) in a large cohort of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) patients.

Methods: Sera from 469 patients with IIM, 196 patients with other connective tissue diseases, 28 patients with solid tumors and 81 healthy controls were screened for anti-CRT Ab by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using human recombinant CRT protein. Sera from 35 IIM patients were tested using an immunoprecipitation assay to confirm the presence of anti-CRT Ab.

Urinary metabolomics analysis identifies key biomarkers of different stages of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Aim: To identify a panel of biomarkers that can distinguish between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and explore molecular mechanism involved in the process of developing NASH from NAFLD.

Methods: Biomarkers may differ during stages of NAFLD. Urine and blood were obtained from non-diabetic subjects with NAFLD and steatosis, with normal liver function ( = 33), from patients with NASH, with abnormal liver function ( = 45), and from healthy age and sex-matched controls ( = 30).

Glycyrrhizic acid in the treatment of liver diseases: literature review.

Glycyrrhizic acid (GA) is a triterpene glycoside found in the roots of licorice plants (Glycyrrhiza glabra). GA is the most important active ingredient in the licorice root, and possesses a wide range of pharmacological and biological activities. GA coupled with glycyrrhetinic acid and 18-beta-glycyrrhetic acid was developed in China or Japan as an anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antiallergic drug for liver disease.

TRAF-mediated regulation of immune and inflammatory responses.

The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factor (TRAF) family consists of six mammalian members, and is shown to participate in signal transduction of a large number of receptor families including TNF receptor family (TNFR) and Toll-like receptors-interleukin-1 receptors (TLR-IL-1R) family. Upon receptor activation, TRAFs are directly or indirectly recruited to the intracellular domains of these receptors. They subsequently engage other signaling proteins to activate inhibitor of kappaB kinase (IKK) complex, TRAF family member-associated NF-kappaB activator (TANK)-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) and inducible I kappaB kinase (IKK-i) (also known as IKKepsilon), ultimately leading to activation of transcription factors such as NF-kappaB and interferon-regulatory factor (IRF) to induce immune and inflammatory responses.