Targeting CFTR restoring aggrephagy to suppress HSC activation and alleviate liver fibrosis.

Background And Aims: Multiple studies have shown that hepatic fibrosis, a progressive condition that represents the endpoint of various chronic liver diseases, is primarily marked by the extensive activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). However, the exact impact of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) on HSCs during the development of hepatic fibrosis remains unclear.

Methods: In our study, we measured CFTR levels in tissue samples and in HSCs activated by TGF-β stimulation.

Interleukin-34 deficiency aggravates development of colitis and colitis-associated cancer in mice.

Background: Although expression of interleukin (IL)-34 is upregulated in active ulcerative colitis (UC), the molecular function and underlying mechanism are largely unclear.

Aim: To investigate the function of IL-34 in acute colitis, in a wound healing model and in colitis-associated cancer in IL-34-deficient mice.

Methods: Colitis was induced by administration of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS), and carcinogenesis was induced by azoxymethane (AOM).

MCCC2 promotes HCC development by supporting leucine oncogenic function.

Background: The role of methylcrotonoyl-CoA carboxylase 2 (MCCC2) in the development of tumors is well-established, and the involvement of leucine in the liver is well-known. However, the role of MCCC2 and the correlation between MCCC2 and leucine in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not yet been reported.

Methods: In this study, the Gepia database was used to evaluate the prognostic value of MCCC2 in HCC.

The AKR1B1 inhibitor epalrestat suppresses the progression of cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide. Identifying an effective treatment with fewer side effects is imperative, because all of the current treatments have unique disadvantages. Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B1 (AKR1B1) is highly expressed in various cancers and is associated with tumor development, but has not been studied in cervical cancer.

Correlation between S100A11 and the TGF-β/SMAD4 pathway and its effects on the proliferation and apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1.

S100A11 as a S100 protein family member has been documented to play dual-direction regulation over cancer cell proliferation. We explored the role of S100A11 in the proliferation and apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1 and the potential mechanisms involving the TGF-β/SMAD4/p21 pathway. S100A11 and TGF-β protein expressions in 30 paraffin-embedded specimens were evaluated by immunohistochemistry.

High expression of ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2A predicts poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

The present study aimed to illustrate the association of the expression of ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2A (UBE2A) with the clinicopathological parameters and prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The expression levels of UBE2A mRNA and protein in a total of 276 HCC tissues and six liver cell lines was detected by fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Statistical analysis was also performed to assess the association of the expression of UBE2A with the clinicopathological parameters and prognosis by the GraphPad Prism and SPSS version 21.

Transplantation of mouse embryonic stem cell-derived oligodendrocytes in the murine model of globoid cell leukodystrophy.

Introduction: Globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD) is a severe disorder of the central and peripheral nervous system caused by the absence of galactocerebrosidase (GALC) activity. Cell-based therapies are highly promising strategies for GLD. In this study, G-Olig2 mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) were induced into oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) and were implanted into the brains of twitcher mice, an animal model of GLD, to explore the therapeutic potential of the cells.

Chronic pouchitis is associated with pouch polyp formation in patients with underlying ulcerative colitis.

Background: Polypoid lesions can develop in ileal pouches. The risk factors associated with the development of pouch polyps have not been studied.

Aim: To characterize clinical features, risk factors, and disease course of pouch polyp in a cohort of patients with underlying inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from a subspecialty clinic.

Clinical significance of indefinite for dysplasia on pouch biopsy in patients with underlying inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: "Indefinite for dysplasia" (IND) on pouch mucosal biopsy is occasionally reported during routine histopathological evaluation. The natural history and implication of this histologic entity in ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) has not been studied.

Aim: The aim of this study is to characterize cumulative probability, natural history, and clinical outcome of pouch IND in a cohort of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Transmural inflammation is not pathognomonic for Crohn's disease of the pouch.

Background: Transmural inflammation shown by imaging and histology has been considered a hallmark of Crohn's disease (CD). However, the diagnostic and prognostic value of this feature in CD of the pouch has not been evaluated. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of transmural inflammation in patients with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) using in vivo optical coherence tomography (OCT) and histopathology.

Diagnosis and management of dysplasia and cancer of the ileal pouch in patients with underlying inflammatory bowel disease.

Approximately 30% of the patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) would ultimately require colectomy for medically refractory UC or UC-associated neoplasia. Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis has become the surgical treatment of choice for these patients. However, this procedure does not completely abolish the risk for neoplasia of the pouch.