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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Alcohol And Hcv: Implications For Liver Cancer, Gyongyi Szabo, Banishree Saha, Terence Bukong Jun 2015

Alcohol And Hcv: Implications For Liver Cancer, Gyongyi Szabo, Banishree Saha, Terence Bukong

Gyongyi Szabo

Liver cancers are one of the deadliest known malignancies which are increasingly becoming a major public health problem in both developed and developing countries. Overwhelming evidence suggests a strong role of infection with hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV), alcohol abuse, as well as metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes either individually or synergistically to cause or exacerbate the development of liver cancers. Although numerous etiologic mechanisms for liver cancer development have been advanced and well characterized, the lack of definite curative treatments means that gaps in knowledge still exist in identifying key molecular mechanisms and pathways …


Differences In Innate Immune Signaling Between Alcoholic And Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis, Jan Petrasek, Timea Csak, Michal Ganz, Gyongyi Szabo Sep 2014

Differences In Innate Immune Signaling Between Alcoholic And Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis, Jan Petrasek, Timea Csak, Michal Ganz, Gyongyi Szabo

Gyongyi Szabo

The similar histopathological characteristics of alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and the crucial role of the innate immune response in both conditions may lead to the assumption that ASH and NASH represent the same pathophysiological entities caused by different risk factors. In this review paper, we elaborate on the pathophysiological differences between these two entities and highlight the disease-specific involvement of signaling molecules downstream of the Toll-like receptor 4, and the differential mechanism by which the inflammasome contributes to ASH versus NASH. Our findings emphasize that ASH and NASH have disease-specific mechanisms and therefore represent distinct biological entities. …


Toll-Like Receptors In Liver Disease, Jan Petrasek, Timea Csak, Gyongyi Szabo Sep 2014

Toll-Like Receptors In Liver Disease, Jan Petrasek, Timea Csak, Gyongyi Szabo

Gyongyi Szabo

Activation of inflammatory signaling pathways is of central importance in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Recent studies demonstrated that Toll-like receptors, the sensors of microbial and endogenous danger signals, are expressed and activated in innate immune cells as well as in parenchymal cells in the liver and thereby contribute to ALD and NASH. In this review, we emphasize the importance of gut-derived endotoxin and its recognition by TLR4 in the liver. The significance of TLR-induced intracellular signaling pathways and cytokine production as well as the contribution of individual cell types to the inflammation is …


Hypoxia And Hypoxia Inducible Factors: Diverse Roles In Liver Diseases, Bharath Nath, Gyongyi Szabo Oct 2012

Hypoxia And Hypoxia Inducible Factors: Diverse Roles In Liver Diseases, Bharath Nath, Gyongyi Szabo

Gyongyi Szabo

Hypoxia has been shown to have a role in the pathogenesis of several forms of liver disease. The hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) are a family of evolutionarily conserved transcriptional regulators that affect a homeostatic response to low oxygen tension and have been identified as key mediators of angiogenesis, inflammation, and metabolism. In this review we summarize the evidence for a role of HIFs across a range of hepatic pathophysiology. We describe regulation of the HIFs and review investigations that demonstrate a role for HIFs in the development of liver fibrosis, activation of innate immune pathways, hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as …


Type I Interferons Protect From Toll-Like Receptor 9-Associated Liver Injury And Regulate Il-1 Receptor Antagonist In Mice, Jan Petrasek, Angela Dolganiuc, Timea Csak, Evelyn Kurt-Jones, Gyongyi Szabo Mar 2011

Type I Interferons Protect From Toll-Like Receptor 9-Associated Liver Injury And Regulate Il-1 Receptor Antagonist In Mice, Jan Petrasek, Angela Dolganiuc, Timea Csak, Evelyn Kurt-Jones, Gyongyi Szabo

Gyongyi Szabo

BACKGROUND and AIMS: Liver inflammation and injury are mediated by the innate immune response, which is regulated by Toll-like receptors (TLR). Activation of TLR9 induces type I interferons (IFNs) via the interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-7. We investigated the roles of type I IFNs in TLR9-associated liver injury. METHODS: Wild-type (WT), IRF7-deficient, and IFN-alpha/beta receptor 1 (IFNAR1)-deficient mice were stimulated with TLR9 or TLR2 ligands. Findings from mice were verified in cultured hepatocytes and liver mononuclear cells (LMNCs) as well as in vivo experiments using recombinant type I IFN and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra). RESULTS: Type I IFNs were up-regulated during …


Interferon Regulatory Factor 3 And Type I Interferons Are Protective In Alcoholic Liver Injury In Mice By Way Of Crosstalk Of Parenchymal And Myeloid Cells, Jan Petrasek, Angela Dolganiuc, Timea Csak, Bharath Nath, Istvan Hritz, Karen Kodys, Donna Catalano, Evelyn Kurt-Jones, Pranoti Mandrekar, Gyongyi Szabo Mar 2011

Interferon Regulatory Factor 3 And Type I Interferons Are Protective In Alcoholic Liver Injury In Mice By Way Of Crosstalk Of Parenchymal And Myeloid Cells, Jan Petrasek, Angela Dolganiuc, Timea Csak, Bharath Nath, Istvan Hritz, Karen Kodys, Donna Catalano, Evelyn Kurt-Jones, Pranoti Mandrekar, Gyongyi Szabo

Gyongyi Szabo

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) features increased hepatic exposure to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) recognizes LPS and activates signaling pathways depending on MyD88 or TRIF adaptors. We previously showed that MyD88 is dispensable in ALD. TLR4 induces Type I interferons (IFNs) in an MyD88-independent manner that involves interferon regulatory factor-3 (IRF3). We fed alcohol or control diets to wild-type (WT) and IRF3 knock-out (KO) mice, and to mice with selective IRF3 deficiency in liver parenchymal and bone marrow-derived cells. Whole-body IRF3-KO mice were protected from alcohol-induced liver injury, steatosis, and inflammation. In contrast to WT or bone marrow-specific IRF3-KO …


Innate Immunity And Alcoholic Liver Disease, Bin Gao, Ekihiro Seki, Jessica Cohen, Laura Nagy, Gyongyi Szabo, Samir Zakhari Mar 2011

Innate Immunity And Alcoholic Liver Disease, Bin Gao, Ekihiro Seki, Jessica Cohen, Laura Nagy, Gyongyi Szabo, Samir Zakhari

Gyongyi Szabo

Excessive alcohol consumption is a leading cause of chronic liver disease in the Western world. Alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress are important mechanisms contributing to the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease. However, emerging evidence suggests that activation of innate immunity involving TLR4 and complement also plays an important role in initiating alcoholic steatohepatitis and fibrosis, but the role of adaptive immunity in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease remains obscure. Activation of a TLR4-mediated MyD88-independent (TRIF/IRF-3) signaling pathway in Kupffer cells contributes to alcoholic steatohepatitis, while activation of TLR4 signaling in hepatic stellate cells promotes liver fibrosis. Alcohol consumption activates …


Innate Immune Response And Hepatic Inflammation, Gyongyi Szabo, Pranoti Mandrekar, Angela Dolganiuc Apr 2010

Innate Immune Response And Hepatic Inflammation, Gyongyi Szabo, Pranoti Mandrekar, Angela Dolganiuc

Gyongyi Szabo

Inflammation is a pathogenic component of various types of acute and chronic liver diseases, and it contributes to progressive liver damage and fibrosis. Cells of the innate immune system initiate and maintain hepatic inflammation though mediator production as a result of their activation by pathogen-derived products recognized by pattern recognition receptors. Innate immune cells, particularly dendritic cells, have a pivotal role in sensing pathogens and initiating adaptive immune responses by activation and regulation of T-lymphocyte responses. Although the liver provides a "tolerogenic" immune environment for antigen-specific T-cells, activation of Kupffer cells, recruited macrophages, and inflammatory cells results in production of …


Altered Innate Immunity In Chronic Hepatitis C Infection: Cause Or Effect, Gyongyi Szabo, Serena Chang, Angela Dolganiuc Apr 2010

Altered Innate Immunity In Chronic Hepatitis C Infection: Cause Or Effect, Gyongyi Szabo, Serena Chang, Angela Dolganiuc

Gyongyi Szabo

No abstract provided.


Human Monocytes, Macrophages, And Dendritic Cells: Alcohol Treatment Methods, Gyongyi Szabo, Pranoti Mandrekar Apr 2010

Human Monocytes, Macrophages, And Dendritic Cells: Alcohol Treatment Methods, Gyongyi Szabo, Pranoti Mandrekar

Gyongyi Szabo

Both acute and chronic alcohol consumption have significant immunomodulatory effects of which alterations in innate immune functions contribute to impaired antimicrobial defense and inflammatory responses. Blood monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells play a central role in innate immune recognition as these cells recognize pathogens, respond with inflammatory cytokine production, and induce antigen-specific T-lymphocyte activation. All of these innate immune cell functions are affected in humans by alcohol intake. Here, we summarize the different effects of acute and chronic alcohol on monocyte, macrophage, and dendritic cell functions in humans and describe methods for separation and functional evaluation of these cell types.


Alcohol-Induced Modulation Of Signaling Pathways In Liver Parenchymal And Nonparenchymal Cells: Implications For Immunity, Bharath Nath, Gyongyi Szabo Apr 2010

Alcohol-Induced Modulation Of Signaling Pathways In Liver Parenchymal And Nonparenchymal Cells: Implications For Immunity, Bharath Nath, Gyongyi Szabo

Gyongyi Szabo

Alcoholic liver injury involves a complex array of derangements in cellular signaling of hepatic parenchymal and nonparenchymal cells as well as cells of the immune system. In the hepatocyte, chronic ethanol abuse leads to lipid accumulation and liver steatosis. Multiple pathways are affected to promote lipid accumulation in the ethanol-exposed hepatocyte. Chronic ethanol renders Kupffer cells hyperresponsive to endotoxin, which results in production of inflammatory cytokines and the tumor necrosis factor-alpha via a toll-like receptor 4 dependent pathway, leading to inflammation and hepatic necrosis. Dysfunction of the innate and adaptive immune responses caused by ethanol contributes to impaired antiviral response, …


Pathogenic Interactions Between Alcohol And Hepatitis C, Gyongyi Szabo Apr 2010

Pathogenic Interactions Between Alcohol And Hepatitis C, Gyongyi Szabo

Gyongyi Szabo

Alcohol is the most commonly abused substance in the United States, and alcohol abuse leads to alcoholic liver disease, a long recognized major public health concern. The high prevalence of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, along with the clinical observation that HCV infection is common in alcoholic patients presenting with liver disease, has directed attention to the interaction between alcohol and HCV infection. Clinical studies have identified alcohol use as an independent risk factor for progression of fibrosis in chronic HCV infection. Experimental evidence suggests additive inhibitory effects between HCV and alcohol on antiviral immune responses. In addition, specific …


Hepatitis C And Innate Immunity: Recent Advances, Gyongyi Szabo, Angela Dolganiuc Apr 2010

Hepatitis C And Innate Immunity: Recent Advances, Gyongyi Szabo, Angela Dolganiuc

Gyongyi Szabo

Eradication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection requires a complex and coordinated interplay between innate and adaptive immune responses that, when it fails, leads to chronic infection. In this review, the innate immune mechanisms by which HCV is sensed and by which HCV undermines host defense are discussed. The critical role of dendritic cells in antigen presentation and T-cell activation in addition to type I interferon production and interference of HCV with innate immune cell functions are reviewed. Finally, current and emerging therapeutic approaches targeting innate immune pathways are evaluated.