Journal of hepatology
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Journal of hepatology · Aug 2009
The neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) prevents inflammatory liver injury in mice.
Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a potent vasodilator and supposed to be responsible for neurogenic inflammation involved in migraine. Its role in inflammatory diseases of other organs is controversial and poorly investigated regarding liver inflammation, although the organ is innervated by CGRP containing primary sensory nerve fibers. ⋯ In the liver, CGRP exerts anti-inflammatory properties, which are characterized by a reduced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
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Journal of hepatology · Aug 2009
Association between omental adipose tissue macrophages and liver histopathology in morbid obesity: influence of glycemic status.
Recently we showed that macrophage accumulation in omental adipose tissue is associated with liver fibro-inflammation in morbidly obese subjects. Here, we evaluated the influence of glycemic status and extended the analysis to the spectrum of obesity-linked liver damage. ⋯ Macrophage accumulation in omental adipose tissue is associated with aggravated steatosis and fibro-inflammation in insulin-resistant obese subjects independently of altered glycemic status.
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Journal of hepatology · Jun 2009
Polyenephosphatidylcholine prevents alcoholic liver disease in PPARalpha-null mice through attenuation of increases in oxidative stress.
Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is one of the leading causes of cirrhosis and yet efficient therapeutic strategies are lacking. Polyenephosphatidylcholine (PPC), a major component of essential phospholipids, prevented alcoholic liver fibrosis in baboons, but its precise mechanism remains uncertain. We aimed to explore the effects of PPC on ALD using ethanol-fed peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (Ppara)-null mice, showing several similarities to human ALD. ⋯ PPC exhibited anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and anti-fibrotic effects on ALD as a result of inhibition of the overexpression of ROS-generating enzymes. Our results demonstrate detailed molecular mechanisms of the anti-oxidant action of PPC.
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Journal of hepatology · Jun 2009
Homing of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells mediated by sphingosine 1-phosphate contributes to liver fibrosis.
Myofibroblasts play a central role in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. Myofibroblasts of bone marrow (BM) origin have recently been identified in fibrotic liver. However, little is known about the mechanism that controls their mobilization in vivo. Here we confirmed that BM mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) can migrate to the damaged liver and differentiate into myofibroblasts. We also investigated the mechanism underlying the homing of BMSCs after liver injury. ⋯ S1P mediates liver fibrogenesis through homing of BMSCs via S1P3 receptor, which may represent a novel therapeutic target in liver fibrosis through inhibiting S1P formation and/or receptor activation.
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Journal of hepatology · May 2009
Comment Letter Comparative StudyHepatectomy versus radiofrequency ablation for early hepatocellular carcinoma.