Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) is a plasma Kunitztype serine protease inhibitor that directly inhibits coagulation Factor Xa and also inhibits tissue factor-initiated coagulation. Normal human plasma TFPI exists both as the fulllength molecule and as variably carboxy-terminal truncated forms. We reported recently that the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein mediates the cel...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Saikosaponin-d (SSd) combined with radiotherapy on SMMC-7721 hepatoma cell lines and its mechanism. MATERIAL/METHODS SMMC-7721 hepatoma cell lines are selected in our research. With MTT (methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium-bromide) method, the effects of SSd and radiation on inhibiting SMMC-7721 cell growth were investigated. ...

Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) plays crucial roles in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We previously showed that HBx protected hepatoma cells from complement attack by activation of CD59. Moreover, in this study we found that HBx protected hepatoma cells from complement attack by activation of C4b-binding protein α (C4BPα), a potent inhibitor of complement system. We observ...

Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGFbeta) is involved in the regulation of liver cell proliferation and apoptosis, and escape of hepatoma cells from the growth restraining signals of TGFbeta has been suggested to contribute to tumor development. TGFbeta modulates gene transcription by receptor-mediated activation of Smad proteins which act as transcription factors. TGFbeta-mediated primary sig...

PURPOSE The association of a single nucleotide polymorphism of interleukin (IL)-10RB codon 47 with the chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been reported in two ethnic populations with different results, but not in a Korean population. IL-10RB is a subunit of receptor complexes for interferon-lambda (IFN-λ) and IL-22, which have antiviral and hepatocyte-protective activity, respectivel...

For the biochemical characterization of a new transplantable hepatoma derived from the MC-29 virus-induced liver tumor, the macromolecular content and the inducibility of glucose-6-phosphatase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase were compared in chicken liver and in this hepatoma. The alteration of the nucleocytoplasmic ratio was deduced from measurements of DNA...

PURPOSE ART and its derivatives, clinically used antimalarial agents, have recently shown antitumor activities. However, the mechanisms underlying these activities remain unclear. This study was designed to determine their antitumor efficacy and underlying mechanisms of action in human hepatoma cells. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The in vitro cytotoxicities of ART, DHA, artemether, and artesunate were...

In somatic hybrids between fibroblast microcells and rat hepatoma cells, tissue-specific extinguisher 1 (TSE1), localized to mouse chromosome 11, extinguishes the expression of tyrosine aminotransferase and phospho(enol)pyruvate carboxykinase. Recently, it was demonstrated that TSE1 corresponds to R1 alpha, a regulatory subunit of protein kinase A. Here, we have analyzed whether R1 alpha could ...

BACKGROUND Da Huang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei) is the dried root or rhizome of Rheum palmatum L., Rheum tanguticum Maxim ex Balf. or Rheum officinale Braill of family Polygonaceae. It has heat clearing, damp drying, fire purging and toxin removing effects. Because of its definite curative efficacy, it has been widely applied in clinical settings. OBJECTIVE To study the inhibitory effect of emodi...

BACKGROUND Although hypoxia is known to promote hepatoma cell invasion and migration, little is known regarding the molecular mechanisms of this process. Our previous research showed that loss of Tg737 is associated with hepatoma cell invasion and migration; therefore, we hypothesized that the Tg737 signal might be required for hypoxia-enhanced invasion and migration. METHODS We established i...