Extracellular Matrix And The Liver

Extracellular Matrix of the Liver addresses the basic science of the extracellular matrix and discusses new strategies for the treatment of cirrhosis of the liver, with a primary focus on possible gene therapy approaches. The chapters are divided into six sections as follows: * Basic Science of Extracellular Matrix * Cells Responsible for Extracellular Matrix Production * Activation Mechanism of Hepatic Cells and Signal Transduction * Basic Science for Extracellular Matrix Metabolism including Enzymes and their Inhibitors * Matrix Mettaloproteinases and Tissue Inhibitors for Matrix Mettaloproteinases * New Strategies for the treatment of Liver Cirrhosis Key Features * Discusses the possibility of gene therapy for liver cirrhosis * Includes information on new aspects of hepatic stellate cells * Written by top experts in basic science and clinical hepatology.

Describing state-of-the-art research techniques for clinicians and introducing important clinical perspectives for basic scientists, this reference examines some significant areas of investigation into the biology of the extracellular matrix and its implications in human pathophysiology.;Focusing on the liver and providing a broad survey of the latest information available, Extracellular Matrix: discusses a wide range of models and organ systems; presents pathophysiological studies emphasizing hepatic disease, particularly the development of fibrosis and cirrhosis; furnishes structure and function analyses of the major extracellular matric components, including collagens, laminin, fibronectin, and proteoglycans; delineates the mechanisms leading to increased depositions of the matrix proteins during hepatic fibrogenesis; details new therapeutic approaches to liver disease; and more.;With authoritative contributions from more than 40 leading international experts representing five countries, Extracellular Matrix should be a useful reference for all scientists interested in matrix biology, chemistry, or pathobiology, especially gastroenterologists, hepatologists, pathologists, and graduate and medical school students in these disciplines.

In the past decade there has been a major sea change in the way disease is diagnosed and investigated due to the advent of high throughput technologies, such as microarrays, lab on a chip, proteomics, genomics, lipomics, metabolomics etc. These advances have enabled the discovery of new and novel markers of disease relating to autoimmune disorders, cancers, endocrine diseases, genetic disorders, sensory damage, intestinal diseases etc. In many instances these developments have gone hand in hand with the discovery of biomarkers elucidated via traditional or conventional methods, such as histopathology or clinical biochemistry. Together with microprocessor-based data analysis, advanced statistics and bioinformatics these markers have been used to identify individuals with active disease or pathology as well as those who are refractory or have distinguishing pathologies. New analytical methods that have been used to identify markers of disease and is suggested that there may be as many as 40 different platforms. Unfortunately techniques and methods have not been readily transferable to other disease states and sometimes diagnosis still relies on single analytes rather than a cohort of markers. There is thus a demand for a comprehensive and focused evidenced-based text and scientific literature that addresses these issues. Hence the formulation of Biomarkers in Disease The series covers a wide number of areas including for example, nutrition, cancer, endocrinology, cardiology, addictions, immunology, birth defects, genetics, and so on. The chapters are written by national or international experts and specialists.

The book brings together the current knowledge and future perspectives of the complex physiology and pathophysiology of gut-liver interactions in health and disease. It provides readers with a unique overview and access to knowledge that cannot be obtained elsewhere. The structure is logical and covers all aspect including the normal physiology, changes in various liver diseases, technology, sample collection and various interventions. Thus suitable for general reading, lookup for specific questions or as a reference book within the area. The book allows the reader to access all the knowledge that has been generated within the last 10 years in this field.

Stellate Cells in Health and Disease is a comprehensive reference providing the most up-to-date knowledge and perspectives on the function of stellate cells affecting the liver and other organs. The text presents comprehensive coverage of their already established role in hepatic fibrosis along with the newer emerging evidence for stellate cell participation in the liver cell (hepatocyte) survival and regeneration, hepatic immunobiology, transplant tolerance, and liver cancer. Chapters describe both animal and human research and the relevance of findings from animal research to human pathophysiology, and also contain sections on future directions which will be of special interest to basic and clinical researchers working on liver fibrosis, hepatic biology, and pathobiology. Presents coverage of the mechanisms of liver fibrosis with stellate cells as a target for therapy. Shows stellate cells as a major participant in hepatic immunobiology, including transplantation immunology. Key illustrations show the phenotypical changes in stellate cells in situ and tissue culture, their interactions with other cell types, signaling pathways and demonstrate the functions and roles of stellate cell in pathological processes.

Myofibroblasts (MFB) are found in most tissues of the body. They have the matrix-producing functions of fibroblasts and contractile properties that are known from smooth muscle cells. Fundamental work of the last decades has shed remarkable light on their origin, biological functions and role in disease. During hepatic injury, they fulfill manifold functions in connective tissue remodeling and wound healing, but overshooting activity of MFB on the other side induces fibrosis and cirrhosis. The present e-book "Liver myofibroblasts" contains 9 articles providing comprehensive information on "hot topics" of MFB. In our opening editorial we provide a short overview of the origin of MFB and their relevance in extracellular matrix formation which is the hallmark of hepatic fibrosis. Thereafter, leading experts in the field share their current perspectives on special topics of (i) MFB in development and disease, ii) their role in hepatic fibrogenesis, and (iii) promising therapies and targets that are suitable to interfere with hepatic fibrosis.

This detailed volume explores hepatic stellate cells, which have become a spotlight of liver cell biology due to their pleiotropic functions that extend well beyond extracellular matrix production to pivotal roles in hepatic homeostasis, immunity, and metabolism. The book features methods to isolate, evaluate, and manipulate this cell type in an effort to elucidate hepatic biology and establish prospects for treating disease. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step and readily reproducible laboratory protocols, as well as tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Hepatic Stellate Cells: Methods and Protocols serves as an ideal aid to help researchers accelerate the outstanding science that has steadily unveiled the mysteries of stellate cell biology and their role in disease.

This volume is in two parts. The first contains the remaining chapters on cellular organelles and several chapters relating to organelle disorders. An account of mitochondriopathis is given in the chapter on the mitochondrion rather than in a separate one. The subject matter of this part of the volume shows quite clearly that the interdisciplinary approach to the study of organelles has shed considerable light on the nature of the mechanisms underlying the etiology and pathobiology of many of these disorders. As an example, mutations in the genes encoding integral membrane proteins are found to lead to disturbances in peroxisome assembly. It is also interesting and significant that mistargeting of protein is now thought to be another cause. It will be revealing to see whether mistargeting is the result of mutations in the genes encoding chaperones. The second part of the volume is concerned with the extracellular matrix. It sets out to show that a vast body of new knowledge of the extracellular matrix is available to us. Take for example the integrin family of cell adhesion receptors. It turns out that integrins play a key role not only in adhesion but also in coupling signals to the nucleus via the cytoskeleton. As for fibronectins, they seem to link the matrix with the cytoskeleton by interacting with integrins. Collagen molecules are dealt with in the last two chapters. The boundaries of collagen in disease are defined by drawing a clear line of demarcation between systemic connective tissue disorders (e.g., scleroderma), better known as autoimmune diseases, and the heritable, and the heritable diseases such as osteogenesis imperfect and the Marfan syndrome. This classification takes into account a second group of acquired disorders of collagen forming tissues in which regional fibrosis is the hallmark. Liver cirrhosis and pulmonary fibrosis are prime examples. The decision to place Volumes 2 and 3 before those dealing with cell chemistry was not easily made. It was based on the view that most students will have had an undergraduate course in biochemistry of cell biology or both courses, and that they could go to Volumes 4-7 in which the subject of cell chemistry is covered, and then return to Volumes 2 and 3.