Natural variations of copper and sulfur stable isotopes in blood of hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

The widespread hypoxic conditions of the tumor microenvironment can impair the metabolism of bioessential elements such as copper and sulfur, notably by changing their redox state and, as a consequence, their ability to bind specific molecules. Because competing redox state is known to drive isotopic fractionation, we have used here the stable isotope compositions of copper ((65)Cu/(63)Cu) and sulfur ((34)S/(32)S) in the blood of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as a tool to explore the cancer-driven copper and sulfur imbalances. We report that copper is (63)Cu-enriched by ∼0.

Human hepatocarcinoma-intestine-pancreas/pancreatitis-associated protein cures fas-induced acute liver failure in mice by attenuating free-radical damage in injured livers.

Unlabelled: Acute liver failure (ALF) is a rare syndrome with a difficult clinical management and a high mortality rate. During ALF, several molecular pathways governing oxidative stress and apoptosis are activated to induce massive tissue injury and suppress cell proliferation. There are few anti-ALF drug candidates, among which is the C-type lectin Reg3α, or human hepatocarcinoma-intestine-pancreas/pancreatitis-associated protein (HIP/PAP), which displayed promising properties for tissue regeneration and protection against cellular stress in transgenic mice.

Immediate neuroendocrine signaling after partial hepatectomy through acute portal hyperpressure and cholestasis.

Background & Aims: Early neuroendocrine pathways contribute to liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy (PH). We investigated one of these pathways involving acute cholestasis, immediate portal hyperpressure, and arginine vasopressin (AVP) secretion.

Methods: Surgical procedure (PH, Portal vein stenosis (PVS), bile duct ligation (BDL), spinal cord lesion (SCL)) and treatments (capsaicin, bile acids (BA), oleanolic acid (OA)) were performed on rats and/or wild type or TGR5 (GPBAR1) knock-out mice.

The etiology of liver damage imparts cytokines transforming growth factor beta1 or interleukin-13 as driving forces in fibrogenesis.

Unlabelled: It is unknown whether transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) signaling uniformly participates in fibrogenic chronic liver diseases, irrespective of the underlying origin, or if other cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-13 share in fibrogenesis (e.g., due to regulatory effects on type I pro-collagen expression).

Hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with an increased risk of hepatitis B virus recurrence after liver transplantation.

Background & Aims: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) recurrence after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is significantly reduced by prophylaxis with hyperimmune antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) globulins (HBIG) and antiviral drugs. The role of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in HBV recurrence remains unclear. We investigated the association between HCC pre-OLT and HBV recurrence post-OLT.

Could post-liver transplantation course be helpful for the diagnosis of so called cryptogenic cirrhosis?

Cryptogenic cirrhosis (CC) is diagnosed in 5-30% of cirrhotic patients overall and 7% of patients who undergo liver transplantation for cirrhosis. In our series of patients transplanted for CC, pre-transplant clinical and histological data and the post-transplant course were reexamined in an attempt to identify the aetiology. Among the 881 patients transplanted in our centre between 1987 and 2000, 28 patients with a median age of 46 yr (range: 18-69) at transplantation were initially classified as having CC.

Hepatitis C virus viral recurrence and liver mitochondrial damage after liver transplantation in HIV-HCV co-infected patients.

Background/aims: As life expectancy in HIV-HCV co-infected patients improves, end stage liver disease requiring liver transplantation (LT) may become an emerging problem. We report the Paul Brousse Hospital experience of transplantation for end stage cirrhosis in HIV-HCV co-infected patients.

Methods: Seven consecutive HIV-HCV co-infected patients were transplanted between December 1999 and December 2002 for end stage liver disease due to HCV.

Neurological improvement during bioartificial liver sessions in patients with acute liver failure awaiting transplantation.

Background: Brain edema is the main cause of death in acute liver failure patients awaiting transplantation. We assessed the HepatAssist 2000, a liver-assist system containing porcine hepatocytes, as a bridge to transplantation in patients with acute liver failure.

Methods: Thirteen patients suffering from acute liver failure with criteria for transplantation entered an open baseline-controlled study, with liver-assist treatment sessions at 24-hr intervals until transplantation.