Gastroenterology
-
Recent studies have shown that programmed death 1 (PD-1) expression can impair virus-specific CD8 T-cell responses during chronic viral infection, including hepatitis B virus (HBV). This study aimed to characterize the PD-1 expression during acute hepatitis B (AHB) and further address whether and how the PD-1-mediated pathway balances antiviral immunity versus immunopathology, possibly contributing to disease progression. ⋯ PD-1 up-regulation may efficiently mitigate pathogenic CD8 T-cell responses and liver damage, correlating with disease progression of acute HBV infection. This study therefore shows how this negative signaling pathway functions in such early HBV infection, which will be important for better clinical management, prognosis, and new HBV treatments.
-
The surgical indications for multiple hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and for HCC with portal hypertension (PHT) remain controversial. ⋯ Resection can provide survival benefits even for patients with multiple tumors in a background of Child-Pugh class A cirrhosis, as well as in those with PHT.
-
Colon epithelial cells are critical for barrier function and contain a highly developed immune response. A previous study has shown hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) as a critical regulator of barrier protection during colon epithelial injury. However, the role of HIF signaling in colon mucosal immunity is not known. ⋯ The present study shows that a chronic increase in HIF signaling in the colon epithelial cells initiates a hyperinflammatory reaction that may have important implications in developing therapeutic strategies for inflammatory bowel disease.