24 In summary, we describe a novel model of progressive liver inflammation

and liver fibrosis that might be valuable for studying pathogenic mechanisms and drug targets in liver fibrosis. We thank Barbara Happich, Isabell Schmidt, and Cornelia Stoll (University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany) and Eva Lederer (Department of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Austria) for technical assistance. We thank Erwin Wagner (Institute for Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria) for providing the fra-1tg mice. Additional Supporting Information may this website be found in the online version of this article. “
“Background and Aims:  Many investigations have demonstrated that cell injuries caused by generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a common mechanism of various hepatic disorders. Recently, we have demonstrated that epimorphin, originally cloned as a mesenchymal protein, protects cultured intestinal epithelial cells from ROS. We therefore examine whether epimorphin protects primary cultured hepatocytes from ROS-induced cell injury. Methods:  We explored the cell viability and

the intracellular ROS levels of purified murine hepatocytes after exposure to 0.5 mM H2O2 with or without pretreatment of epimorphin. Then, we observed mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) and depolarization using confocal microscopy to make clear the mechanism that epimorphin inhibited cell injuries after exposure to H2O2. In addition, to clarify the signaling pathways related to cell survival, we Idelalisib chemical structure carried out Western blotting analysis with phosphorylated stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK) polyclonal antibody to evaluate the inhibition of JNK by epimorphin. Finally, we evaluated the cell viability in hepatocytes administered JNK inhibitor. Results:  Epimorphin protected primary cultured hepatocytes from H2O2-induced cell injuries independent of intracellular ROS levels. Epimorphin also inhibited onset of MPT, depolarization Immune system of the mitochondrial membrane potential,

and eventually cell killing. The cell protective function of epimorphin after exposure to H2O2 was not dependent on Akt signaling but on JNK signaling. Conclusion:  Epimorphin can protect hepatocytes from MPT-dependent cell injury induced by ROS. Since hepatic disorders could be caused by MPT-dependent cell injuries with excessive ROS, epimorphin might open a new therapeutic avenue for hepatic disorders. “
“Nearly one third of the world’s population have been infected with hepatitis B and the virus is endemic in many Asian countries. With increasing life expectancy and the expected global increase in cancer, chemotherapy induced reactivation of hepatitis B is likely to become an increasing problem.