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UCSD researchers identify critical receptor in liver regeneration
March 30, 2007In studies in mouse models, researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine have found that a cellular receptor involved in triggering cell death is also a necessary component of tissue repair and regeneration immediately following liver injury. This discovery could have implications for early intervention or therapy in liver disease such as cirrhosis or hepatitis.
In a report to be published in the March 30 issue of the journal Science, Katerina Akassoglou, Ph.D. assistant professor in UCSD's Department of Pharmacology, and colleagues describe the mechanism by which cells associated with liver damage, called hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), are activated by a cell surface molecule called the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) to promote repair in the liver.
"Many therapeutics for liver disease target HSCs in order to kill them, but our study in animal models found that their initial activity could actually be protective," said Akassoglou.
When chronic liver injury occurs, cells in the liver begin producing collagen and other proteins that lead to the formation of fibrous tissue and scarring. Akassoglou's team looked at the molecular-cellular interface to discover how tissues respond to deposition of the fibrous protein, fibrin. In studies of a mouse model with excessive fibrin deposition in the liver, the researchers found that p75NTR signaling promotes the initial activation of HSC, which stimulates the proliferation of new hepatic cells to replace those that have been damaged. The effects of p75NTR at late stages of HSC activation and liver disease remain to be determined.
"We were intrigued by the increase of p75NTR expression after liver injury and hypothesized that p75NTR might regulate the progression of liver disease," said Akassoglou. "By identifying p75NTR as the specific molecular link between HSCs and liver regeneration, p75NTR could provide a new therapeutic target for promoting cell regeneration and repair during chronic liver disease or injury."
This discovery suggests the importance of sustaining p75 and early HSC activation - for example, in the case of liver transplantation when regeneration of liver cells is critical.
University of California-San Diego
When chronic liver injury occurs, cells in the liver begin producing collagen and other proteins that lead to the formation of fibrous tissue and scarring. Akassoglou's team looked at the molecular-cellular interface to discover how tissues respond to deposition of the fibrous protein, fibrin. In studies of a mouse model with excessive fibrin deposition in the liver, the researchers found that p75NTR signaling promotes the initial activation of HSC, which stimulates the proliferation of new hepatic cells to replace those that have been damaged. The effects of p75NTR at late stages of HSC activation and liver disease remain to be determined.
"We were intrigued by the increase of p75NTR expression after liver injury and hypothesized that p75NTR might regulate the progression of liver disease," said Akassoglou. "By identifying p75NTR as the specific molecular link between HSCs and liver regeneration, p75NTR could provide a new therapeutic target for promoting cell regeneration and repair during chronic liver disease or injury."
This discovery suggests the importance of sustaining p75 and early HSC activation - for example, in the case of liver transplantation when regeneration of liver cells is critical.
University of California-San Diego
Liver Regeneration Current Events and Liver Regeneration News RSSLower tacrolimus doses is suitable for living donor liver transplantation with small-for-size graft
Several studies have shown that living donor liver transplant (LDLT) recipients required smaller doses of tacrolimus compared with deceased donor liver transplant (DDLT) patients, which indicated that liver regeneration could affect the metabolism of tacrolimus in LDLT.
What is the role of the omentum in regenerating the liver?
In their recent work to be published on March 7, 2009 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology, Dr. Singh and his colleagues from the Cook County Hospital in Chicago (USA) first activated the omentum using a foreign body to increase its content of stem cells and growth factors and then used the activated omentum to regenerate the liver.
Who found some new mechanisms of HBV virulence?
This dreadful HBV is small in size. The genome of this virus is a partial double stranded circle. When made fully double stranded, this genome carries about 3000 base pairs, compared to 200 kilo base pairs of the genome of the smallpox virus.
Optimal systemic and splanchnic hemodynamic state after living-donor liver transplantation
Almost all adult recipients who undergo LDLT develop liver cirrhosis with long-term portal hypertension. Portal hypertension results in vascular dilatation and collateral pathways. Thus, various alterations in systemic hemodynamics and splanchnic circulation occur, and adult recipients often present characteristic hemodynamics before LDLT.
Liver regeneration may be simpler than previously thought
The way the liver renews itself may be simpler than what scientists had been assuming. A new study, appearing in the April 13 issue of The Journal of Biological Chemistry, provides new information on the inner workings of cells from regenerating livers that could significantly affect the way physicians make livers regrow in patients with liver diseases such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, or cancer.
Fatty acids and caveolin-1 are essential in liver regeneration
Liver regulates lipid, carbohydrate and protein metabolism. It also segregates a number of proteins and enzymes, and eliminates toxic substances from the organism. Liver regeneration is a mostly unknown process at a molecular level, although it is essential for the good functioning of the liver, and indispensable in order to carry out some therapeutic strategies, such as living-donor transplant.
Cycles of cell death, proliferation key to liver cancer
Research at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine shows that liver cancer is likely caused by cycles of liver cell death and renewal.
Study links obesity to liver failure
Researchers have found that obesity can put patients with acute liver failure at increased risk of mortality and other major complications.
Bile acids, receptor key in regenerating livers
Bile must have been the most important thing in medicine for the physicians of ancient Greece and Rome. Yellow bile and black bile are half of the four humors that they believed made up the body, along with blood and phlegm.
Aquaporin and obesity
Dr. Gema Fr√°hbeck, director of the Metabolic Research Laboratory of the University Hospital of the University of Navarra, has published a commentary in the latest issue of Nature.
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Liver Support Formula (4oz - 120ml) Naturopath/MD-Formulated, Clinically Proven, Safe and Effective! by Organic Essentials For Life Each bottle contains 4 ounces of concentrated medicinal formula that lasts 8 days. Although patients typically see results fairly quickly on this formula, however, due to the fact that NO isolated pharmaceutical chemicals of any nature have been incorporated in this formula (or any of Dr. Claude Matars), it may take 4-12 bottles, or 1-3 months, for the full course of treatment to be completed---- This formula is exclusive! It is safe and exceptionally effective as it contains the strongest available herbal extracts in the USA (3-5 times more potent than commercial tinctures)---All of Dr. Claude Matars formulas are the result of clinical research on real patients and have been hand-produced without the use of heat by the time-tested cold maceration process---Beware that commercial herbal... |
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