Resistin as an intrahepatic cytokine: overexpression during chronic injury and induction of proinflammatory actions in hepatic stellate cells

Advances in research of tumor microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not just composed of liver cancer cells; it contains several cell types and extracellular matrix that interact with each other, creating a complex interaction network within a permissive microenvironment. The tumor microenvironment in HCC can not only support liver cancer cell growth but also promote tumor invasion through the stimulation of cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and activation of angiogenesis, which together determine the phenotype of HCC. In this review, we provide an overview of current knowledge on the role of the tumor microenvironment in HCC and its application in prognosis prediction and treatment.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and the heart in children and adolescents

Over the last two decades, the rise in the prevalence rates of overweight and obesity explains the emergence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. As described in adults, children and adolescents with fatty liver display insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and dyslipidemia. Thus NAFLD has emerged as the hepatic component of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and a strong cardiovascular risk factor even at a very early age. Several studies, including pediatric populations, have reported independent associations between NAFLD and markers of subclinical atherosclerosis including impaired flow-mediated vasodilation, increased carotid artery intima-media thickness, and arterial stiffness, after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors and MetS. Also, it has been shown that NAFLD is associated with cardiac alterations, including abnormal left ventricular structure and impaired diastolic function. The duration of these subclinical abnormalities may be important, because treatment to reverse the process is most likely to be effective earlier in the disease. In the present review, we examine the current evidence on the association between NAFLD and atherosclerosis as well as between NAFLD and cardiac dysfunction in the pediatric population, and discuss briefly the possible biological mechanisms linking NAFLD and cardiovascular changes. We also address the approach to treatment for this increasingly prevalent disease, which is likely to have an important future global impact on the burden of ill health, to prevent not only end-stage liver disease but also cardiovascular disease.

Galectin-9 and inflammatory bowel disease

Galectin-9 (Gal-9), a beta-galactoside binding lectin, is a tandem-repeat-type member of the galectin family which can specifically recognize and bind to galactosidase associated with diverse biological processes. Gal-9 is widely expressed in various tissues, plays a role in cell growth, polarization, adhesion, aggregation, and apoptosis, and has important functions in inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, tumors, and infections. Our recent studies showed that Gal-9 is strongly associated with the genesis and development of inflammatory bowel disease. Here we will review the progress in understanding the role of Gal-9 in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease.