The data provide proof of concept that renal dysfunction in patients with cirrhosis with superimposed inflammation is associated with significant tubular injury and apoptosis and with increased renal expression and urinary excretion of the TLR4, suggesting a potential role of TLR4 as mediator of renal injury.

Background and Aims Portal hypertension is characterized by reduced hepatic eNOS activity. Asymmetric-dimethylarginine (ADMA), an eNOS inhibitor, is elevated in cirrhosis and correlates with severity of portal hypertension. Dimethylargininedimethylaminohydrolase-1 (DDAH-1) is the key enzyme metabolizing hepatic ADMA. This study characterized DDAH-1 in cirrhosis, and explored hepatic DDAH-1 reconstitution through FXR agonism and DDAH-1 gene therapy. Methods DDAH-1 Immunohistochemistry was conducted on human cirrhosis and healthy liver tissue. Subsequently, sham-operated or bile-duct-ligated (BDL) cirrhosis rats were treated with FXR agonist Obeticholic acid (OA, 5mg/kg) or vehicle for 5 days. Further animals underwent hydrodynamic injection with DDAH-1-expressing plasmid or saline control. Groups: Sham+saline, BDL+saline, BDL+DDAH-1-plasmid. Portal pressure (PP) measurements were performed. Plasma ALT was measured by Cobas-Integra; DDAH-1 expression by qPCR and Western blot; eNOS activity by radiometric assay. Results Immunohistochemistry and Western-blotting confirmed hepatic DDAH-1 was restricted to hepatocytes, and expression decreased significantly in cirrhosis. In BDL rats, reduced DDAH-1 expression was associated with elevated hepatic ADMA, reduced eNOS activity and high PP. OA treatment significantly increased DDAH-1 expression, reduced hepatic tissue ADMA, and increased liver NO generation. PP was significantly reduced in BDL+OA vs. BDL+vehicle (8±1 vs. 13.5±0.6 mmHg; p<0.01) with no change in MAP. Similarly, DDAH-1 hydrodynamic injection significantly increased hepatic DDAH-1 gene and protein expression, and significantly reduced PP in BDL+DDAH-1 vs. BDL+ saline (p<0.01). Conclusion This study demonstrates DDAH-1 is a specific molecular target for portal pressure reduction, through actions on ADMA-mediated regulation of eNOS activity. Our data support translational studies targeting DDAH-1 in cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

Background & Aims: Chronic liver disease is a predisposing factor for development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Toll-like receptors play a crucial role in immunity against microbial pathogens and recent evidence suggests that they may also be important in pathogenesis of chronic liver disease. The purpose of this study was to determine whether TLR7 and TLR9 are potential targets for prevention and progression of HCC. Methods: Tissue microarrays containing liver samples from patients with cirrhosis, viral hepatitis and HCC were examined for expression of TLR7 and TLR9 and the data obtained was validated in liver specimens from the hospital archives. Proliferation of human HCC cell lines was studied following stimulation of TLR7 and TLR9 using agonists (imiquimod and CpG-ODN respectively) and inhibition with a specific antagonist (IRS-954) or chloroquine. The effect of these interventions was confirmed in a xenograft model and diethylnitrosamine (DEN)/nitrosomorpholine (NMOR)-induced model of HCC. Results: TLR7 and TLR9 expression was up-regulated in human HCC tissue. Proliferation of HuH7 cells in vitro increased significantly in response to stimulation of TLR7. TLR7 and TLR9 inhibition using IRS-954 or chloroquine significantly reduced HuH7 cell proliferation in vitro and inhibited tumour growth in the mouse xenograft model. HCC development in the DEN/NMOR rat model was also significantly inhibited by chloroquine (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The data suggest that inhibiting TLR7 and TLR9 with IRS-954 or chloroquine could potentially be used as a novel therapeutic approach for preventing HCC development and/or progression in susceptible patients.

Aims: Unlike other Toll-like receptors (TLRs), the role of toll like receptor 2 (TLR-2) in the pathogenesis of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not well studied. We, therefore, set out to investigate the expression of TLR-2 in different chronic liver disease states along with other markers of cell death, cellular proliferation and tissue vascularisation Methods and results: Immunohistochemistry was performed on liver tissue microarrays comprising hepatitis, cirrhosis and HCC patient samples using antibodies against TLR-2, Ki-67, Caspase-3 and VEGF. This was done in order to characterise receptor expression and translocation, apoptosis, cell proliferation and vascularisation.Cytoplasmic TLR-2 expression was found to be weak in 5/8 normal liver cases, 10/19 hepatitis cases and 8/21 cirrhosis patients. Moderate to strong TLR-2 expression was observed in some cases of hepatitis and cirrhosis. Both, nuclear and cytoplasmic TLR-2 expression was present in HCC with weak intensity in 11/41 cases, and moderate to strong staining in 19/41 cases. Eleven HCC cases were TLR-2 negative. Surprisingly, both cytoplasmic and nuclear TLR-2 expression in HCC were found to significantly correlate with proliferative index (r=0.24 and 0.37), Caspase-3 expression (r=0.27 and 0.38) and vascularisation (r=0.56 and 0.23). Further, nuclear TLR-2 localisation was predominant in HCC, whereas cytoplasmic expression was more prevalent in hepatitis and cirrhosis. Functionally, treatment of HUH7 HCC cells with a TLR-2 agonist induced the expression of cellular proliferation and vascularisation markers CD34 and VEGF. Conclusions:Our results demonstrate a positive correlation between the expression of TLR-2 and other markers of proliferation and vascularisation in HCC which suggests a possible role for TLR2 in HCC pathogenesis

Carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury is a thoroughly studied model for regeneration and fibrosis in rodents. Nevertheless, its pattern of liver fibrosis is frequently misinterpreted as portal type. To clarify this, we show that collagen type IV "streets" and α-SMA cells accumulate pericentrally and extend to neighbouring central areas of the liver lobule, forming a 'pseudolobule'. Blood vessels in the center of such pseudolobules are portal veins as indicated by the presence of bile duct cells (CK19) and the absence of pericentral hepatocytes (glutamine synthetase). It is critical to correctly describe this pattern of fibrosis, particulary for metabolic zonation studies.

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The spectral profiles of plasma in rats with HCC display marked changes with relation to lipid metabolism and cellular turnover. Norfloxacin appears to moderate these metabolic alterations to a small degree.