Association of serum level of growth differentiation factor 15 with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver cirrhosis are associated with high mortality worldwide. Currently, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is used as a standard serum marker for the detection of HCC, but its sensitivity and specificity are unsatisfactory, and optimal diagnostic markers for cirrhosis are lacking. We previously reported that growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) was significantly induced in HCV-infected hepatocytes.

Interactome map reveals phospholipid scramblase 1 as a novel regulator of hepatitis B virus x protein.

HBV X protein plays crucial roles during viral infection and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development through interaction with various host factors. Here, we mapped the interactome of HBx using a yeast two-hybrid screen. Nine human proteins were identified as novel interacting partners of HBx, one of which is phospholipid scramblase 1 (PLSCR1).

Detection of antibodies against porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in serum and colostrum by indirect ELISA.

An indirect porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) anti-immunoglobulin (Ig) G ELISA based on the S1 portion of the spike protein was validated and compared with an indirect immunofluorescence assay. In serum samples from experimentally infected pigs (n = 35), anti-IgG PEDV antibodies were detected as early as 7 days post-infection. In field serum samples (n = 239), the diagnostic sensitivity of the S1 ELISA was 100% and the diagnostic specificity was 94%.

Recombinant human interleukin 28B: anti-HCV potency, receptor usage and restricted cell-type responsiveness.

Objectives: Interleukin 28B (IL28B) genetic variation has been recently reported as a potent predictor of hepatitis C virus (HCV) response to interferon (IFN) therapy. The aim of this study was to produce recombinant human IL28B (rhIL28B) in yeast and explore the action mechanisms of rhIL28B as a novel anti-HCV agent.

Methods: A simple and efficient protocol for producing rhIL28B in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris was developed.

Phospholipid scramblase 1 mediates hepatitis C virus entry into host cells.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects human hepatocytes through several host factors. However, other prerequisite factors for viral entry remain to be identified. Using a yeast two-hybrid screen, we found that human phospholipid scramblase 1 interacts with HCV envelope proteins E1 and E2.

Growth differentiation factor 15 is induced by hepatitis C virus infection and regulates hepatocellular carcinoma-related genes.

Liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are commonly induced by chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We aimed to identify and characterize the involvement of previously screened cytokine GDF15 in HCV pathogenesis. We examined the GDF15 expression after HCV infection both in vitro and in vivo.

Study of the interaction between 8-azaguanine and bovine serum albumin using optical spectroscopy and molecular modeling methods.

The interaction between 8-azaguanine (8-Azan) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) in Tris-HCl buffer solutions at pH 7.4 was investigated by means of fluorescence and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. At 298 K and 310 K, at a wavelength of excitation (λ (ex)) of 282 nm, the fluorescence intensity decreased significantly with increasing concentrations of 8-Azan.