Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Jelena Jadzic, Danica Cvetkovic, Nada Tomanovic, Vladimir Zivkovic, Slobodan Nikolic, Petar Milovanovic, Marija Djuric, Danijela Djonic
Summary: There is significant micro-architectural deterioration in the trabecular compartment of the lumbar vertebrae of male individuals with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis, which is associated with the severity of the liver disease. Therefore, all liver cirrhosis patients should undergo clinical assessment for fracture risk, regardless of the etiology, and timely treatment of liver disorder may help slow down the progression of bone impairment in LC patients.
MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Chiara Mangini, Sara Montagnese
Summary: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a common complication of advanced liver disease with significant implications for patients, families, healthcare services, and society as a whole. The past few years have seen increased attention towards HE and the development of new drugs/management strategies to address this serious management challenge.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Jelena Jadzic, Danijela Djonic
Summary: Given that the liver is involved in many metabolic mechanisms, chronic liver disease (CLD) can lead to complications such as secondary osteoporosis and increased bone fragility, which are often overlooked. Studies have shown that up to one-third of CLD patients meet diagnostic criteria for osteopenia or osteoporosis. Recent publications indicate that the risk of bone fragility in CLD patients depends on the etiology, duration, and stage of liver disease. This poses a significant socioeconomic burden and calls for more effective prevention, diagnosis, and treatment measures.
WORLD JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Takayoshi Yamaza, Soichiro Sonoda, Sara Murata, Haruyoshi Yamaza, Ratih Yuniartha, Junko Fujiyoshi, Koichiro Yoshimaru, Toshiharu Matsuura, Yoshinao Oda, Shouichi Ohga, Tasturo Tajiri, Tomoaki Taguchi
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and mechanism of transplantation of immature hepatocyte-like cells converted from stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED-Heps) in bone loss of chronic liver fibrosis. The results showed that SHED-Hep transplantation improved trabecular bone loss and liver fibrosis in chronic CCl4-treated mice by reducing hepatic ROS production and interleukin 17 (Il-17) expression. SHED-HepTx also reduced the expression of both Il17 and tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily 11A (Tnfrsf11a) and ameliorated the imbalance of osteoclast and osteoblast activities in the bone marrow of CCl4-treated mice.
MOLECULAR METABOLISM
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Flavio Pereira, Richard Azevedo, Marisa Linhares, Joao Pinto, Catia Leitao, Ana Caldeira, Jose Tristan, Eduardo Pereira, Rui Sousa, Antonio Banhudo
Summary: The study revealed a high prevalence of hepatic osteodystrophy and osteoporosis in patients with ALD cirrhosis, particularly in those with a lower body mass index, and a concerning high rate of fragility fractures. Bone mineral density assessment is important for early diagnosis and preventive measures.
REVISTA ESPANOLA DE ENFERMEDADES DIGESTIVAS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yuzo Koda, Toshiaki Teratani, Po-Sung Chu, Yuya Hagihara, Yohei Mikami, Yosuke Harada, Hanako Tsujikawa, Kentaro Miyamoto, Takahiro Suzuki, Nobuhito Taniki, Tomohisa Sujino, Michiie Sakamoto, Takanori Kanai, Nobuhiro Nakamoto
Summary: The study identified CD8+ tissue-resident memory T cells as key players in resolving liver fibrosis, potentially through Fas-mediated cytotoxicity to eliminate hepatic stellate cells.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ji Hye Jun, Soo Young Park, Sohae Park, Hee Jung Park, Jae Yeon Kim, Gyu Tae Park, Si Hyun Bae, Jae Ho Kim, Gi Jin Kim
Summary: The hexapeptide WKYMVm demonstrates antifibrotic and angiogenic effects in a rat model of bile duct ligation (BDL), showing a reduction in collagen type I and alpha-smooth muscle actin expression and an increase in angiogenetic factors. Furthermore, WKYMVm alleviates hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting hepatic stellate cell activation and promotes hepatic regeneration via vascular remodeling, making it a potential therapeutic agent for liver fibrosis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Floris Haijer, Shiva Koets-Shajari, Janette Heegsma, Sandra Serna-Salas, Tjasso Blokzijl, Manon Buist-Homan, Han Moshage, Klaas Nico Faber
Summary: Liver fibrosis is caused by excessive proliferation and collagen production by hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) due to chronic liver injury. Hydroxyurea, an anti-proliferative drug, showed inhibitory effects on HSC proliferation and fibrosis development in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. This study provides evidence for the therapeutic potential of hydroxyurea in treating liver fibrosis.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Mo-Jong Kim, Jung-Hee Kim, Jang-Han Jung, Sung-Eun Kim, Hyoung-Su Kim, Myoung-Kuk Jang, Sang-Hoon Park, Myung-Seok Lee, Ki Tae Suk, Dong Joon Kim, Eun-Kyoung Choi, Ji-Won Park
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic ability of serum S100B in discriminating the grade of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and its correlation with other parameters. The results showed that serum S100B level was not useful for differentiating the severity of HE, but it could be affected by age, serum bilirubin, and creatinine levels and was associated with MELD scores. Additionally, serum S100B levels showed the possibility of predicting 1-year mortality in cirrhotic patients.
Review
Immunology
Huayu Guan, Xiang Zhang, Ming Kuang, Jun Yu
Summary: The gut-liver axis plays a crucial role in host-microbiota communications and immune homeostasis. In diseases such as hepatic cirrhosis, gut dysbiosis and impaired intestinal barrier lead to immune alterations in the liver and other organs. This review discusses the immune changes in the gut-liver axis and how microbiota-derived immune remodeling contributes to the progression of hepatic cirrhosis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Andrija Jurina, Valentina Delimar, Zlatko Giljevic, Tajana Filipec Kanizaj, Andro Matkovic, Dinko Vidovic, Nikolina Jurjevic, Vinko Vidjak, Zeljko Duic, Mario Cuk, Mladen Japjec, Tomislav Dujmovic, Andrea Radeljak, Mirjana Marjana Kardum Paro, Marijana Vucic-Lovrencic, Mario Staresinic
Summary: This study investigated the prevalence of fragility spinal fractures among liver transplant candidates with cirrhosis. The results showed the detrimental impact of chronic liver disease and hepatic osteodystrophy on bone strength, and the correlation between DXA measurement and lumbar fragility fractures. These findings highlight the importance of adequate bone evaluation in liver transplant candidates.
INJURY-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THE CARE OF THE INJURED
(2024)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Kuo Du, Seh Hoon Oh, Rajesh K. Dutta, Tianai Sun, Wen-Hsuan Yang, Jen-Tsan Chi, Anna Mae Diehl
Summary: Inhibiting xCT can reduce myofibroblastic activity and induce ferroptosis in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). However, targeting xCT inhibition specifically to myofibroblastic HSCs is crucial to effectively exploit ferroptosis as an anti-fibrotic strategy.
LIVER INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kunihiko Yokoyama, Akira Sakamaki, Kazuya Takahashi, Takumi Naruse, Chihiro Sato, Yuzo Kawata, Kentaro Tominaga, Hiroyuki Abe, Hiroki Sato, Atsunori Tsuchiya, Kenya Kamimura, Masaaki Takamura, Junji Yokoyama, Shuji Terai
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and liver cirrhosis (LC). The results showed that hydrogen-producing SIBO (H-SIBO) was significantly associated with liver function impairment, while methane-producing SIBO (M-SIBO) was not. Rifaximin may be more effective for covert hepatic encephalopathy (HE) associated with H-SIBO.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Indu Grover, Deepak Gunjan, Namrata Singh, Jaya Benjamin, Lakshmy Ramakrishnan, Ravindra M. Pandey, Hem C. Sati, Anoop Saraya
Summary: The study revealed that after 1 year of vitamin D supplementation in patients with cirrhosis, there was a significant increase in vitamin D levels but no significant improvement in bone mineral density was observed at the lumbar spine and left hip neck.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Ana C. Maretti-Mira, Matthew P. Salomon, Angela M. Hsu, Lily Dara, Lucy Golden-Mason
Summary: The natural killer (NK) cell population in the liver plays a critical role in innate immunity, and its functions are influenced by the surrounding environment. In the late stage of fibrosis, NK cells become dysfunctional, but the impact of disease etiology on NK cell behavior during cirrhosis is unclear. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), this study characterized hepatic NK cells in end-stage cirrhotic livers from subjects with different liver diseases, showing that disease etiology affects hepatic NK cell heterogeneity. Therapeutic strategies targeting NK cells for fibrosis prevention or treatment should consider the specific liver disease etiology.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)