Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
2008-12-8
pubmed:abstractText
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major causative agent of chronic liver disease and subsequent liver cirrhosis worldwide. The reduced sensitivity of virus-infected liver cells to apoptosis may play a role in the failure to remove virus-infected cells and eventually promote viral chronicity. The purpose of our study was to investigate whether survival factors induced during compensatory liver regeneration may protect hepatocytes against apoptosis. We evaluated the serum levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) in HBV-infected patients and found significant increases in HGF and EGF in patients with active virus infection. In primary human hepatocytes we show that HGF and EGF have a protective effect against CD95-mediated apoptosis and cytotoxic T-cell killing. Simultaneous treatment with both regeneration factors enhanced the cytoprotective effect. The PI 3-K/Akt kinase inhibitor, wortmannin, and the STAT3 pathway inhibitor, Tyrphostin AG490, both effectively attenuated the cytoprotective effect of HGF and EGF. Furthermore, we show an EGF/HGF-dependent upregulation of beta(1)-integrin chains, increased adhesion to extracellular matrix and an increase in focal adhesions, suggesting outside-in signaling from the extracellular matrix as an additional cytoprotective mechanism. Our study demonstrates that HGF and EGF can interfere with CD95-mediated apoptosis and the action of cytotoxic T-cells through multiple mechanisms in human hepatocytes. Together our results argue that a survival mileau generated by activation of liver regeneration factors may be a risk factor for establishing viral persistence.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
1097-0215
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Electronic
pubmed:day
1
pubmed:volume
124
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
120-9
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2009
pubmed:articleTitle
EGF and HGF levels are increased during active HBV infection and enhance survival signaling through extracellular matrix interactions in primary human hepatocytes.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Internal Medicine I, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't