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One of the global burdens of health care is an alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) and liver-related death which is caused due to acute or chronic consumption of alcohol. Chronic consumption of alcohol damage the normal defense mechanism of the liver and likely to disturb the gut barrier system, mucosal immune cells, which leads to decreased nutrient absorption. Therapy of ALD depends upon the spectrum of liver injury that causes fatty liver, hepatitis, and cirrhosis. The foundation of therapy starts with abstinence from alcohol. Corticosteroids are used for the treatment of ALD but due to poor acceptance, continuing mortality, and identification of tumor necrosis factor-alpha as an integral component in pathogenesis, recent studies focus on pentoxifylline and, antitumor necrosis factor antibody to neutralize cytokines in the therapy of severe alcoholic hepatitis. Antioxidants also play a significant role in the treatment but till today there is no universally accepted therapy available for any stage of ALD. The treatment aspects need to restore the gut functions and require nutrient-based treatments to regulate the functions of the gut system and prevent liver injury. The vital action of saturated fatty acids greatly controls the gut barrier. Overall, this review mainly focuses on the mechanism of alcohol-induced metabolic dysfunction, contribution to liver pathogenesis, the effect of pregnancy, and targeted therapy of ALD.

Triclosan (TCS) is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent that has been added to personal care products, including hand soaps and cosmetics, and impregnated in numerous different materials ranging from athletic clothing to food packaging. The constant disposal of TCS into the sewage system is creating a major environmental and public health hazard. Owing to its chemical properties of bioaccumulation and resistance to degradation, TCS is widely detected in various environmental compartments in concentrations ranging from nanograms to micrograms per liter. Epidemiology studies indicate that significant levels of TCS are detected in body fluids in all human age groups. We document here the emerging evidence--from in vitro and in vivo animal studies and environmental toxicology studies--demonstrating that TCS exerts adverse effects on different biological systems through various modes of action. Considering the fact that humans are simultaneously exposed to TCS and many TCS-like chemicals, we speculate that TCS-induced adverse effects may be relevant to human health.

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a common cause of enterically transmitted viral hepatitis. In non-immune individuals, infection results in typically transient but occasionally fulminant and fatal inflammatory liver injury. Virus-specific T cell frequencies peak when liver damage is at its zenith, leading to the prevalent notion that T cells exacerbate liver disease, as suspected for other hepatotropic virus infections. However, the overall contribution of T cells to the control of HAV and the pathogenesis of hepatitis A is unclear and has been impeded by a historic lack of small animal models. Ifnar1 -/- mice are highly permissive for HAV and develop pathogenesis that recapitulates many features of hepatitis A. Using this model, we identified HAV-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells by epitope mapping, and then used tetramers and functional assays to quantify T cells in the liver at multiple times after infection. We assessed the relationships between HAV-specific T cell frequency, viral RNA amounts, and liver pathogenesis. A large population of virus-specific T cells accumulated within the livers of Ifnar1 -/- mice during the first 1-2 weeks of infection and persisted over time. HAV replication was enhanced and liver disease exacerbated when mice were depleted of T cells. Conversely, immunization with a peptide vaccine increased virus-specific CD8+ T cell frequencies in the liver, reduced viral RNA abundance, and lessened liver injury. These data show that T cells protect against HAV-mediated liver injury and can be targeted to improve liver health. Hepatitis A virus is a leading cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide. T cells were thought to contribute to liver injury during acute infection. We now show that virus-specific T cells protect against infection and limit liver injury. [Display omitted] • T cells protect against HAV-mediated liver injury and can be targeted to improve liver health. • Ifnar1 -/- mice are permissive for HAV and generate HAV-specific T cells within the liver during infection. • HAV replication was enhanced and liver disease exacerbated when mice were depleted of CD4+ or CD8+ T cells. • Peptide vaccination increased virus-specific CD8+ T cell frequencies and reduced viral RNA and liver injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: The nonstructural 5A (NS5A) protein of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been implicated in HCV-induced liver pathogenesis. Wnt/β-catenin signaling has also been involved in tumorigenesis. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of HCV pathogenesis, we examined the potential effects of HCV NS5A protein on Wnt/β-catenin signal transduction cascades. Methods: The effects of NS5A protein on β-catenin signaling cascades in hepatic cells were investigated by luciferase reporter gene assay, confocal microscopy, immunoprecipitation assay, and immunoblot analysis. Results: β-Catenin-mediated transcriptional activity is elevated by NS5A protein, in the context of HCV replication, and by infection of cell culture-produced HCV. NS5A protein directly interacts with endogenous β-catenin and colocalizes with β-catenin in the cytoplasm. NS5A protein inactivates glycogen synthase kinase 3β and increases subsequent accumulation of β-catenin in HepG2 cells. β-Catenin was also accumulated in HCV patients’ liver tissues. In addition, the accumulation of β-catenin in HCV replicon cells requires both activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and inactivation of GSK3β. Conclusions: NS5A activates β-catenin signaling cascades through increasing the stability of β-catenin. This modulation is accomplished by the protein interplay between viral and cellular signaling transducer. These data suggest that NS5A protein may directly be involved in Wnt/β-catenin-mediated liver pathogenesis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Hepatitis C virus nonstructural protein 4B (NS4B) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane associated protein and a potent causative factor of ER stress. Here we reported that unfolded protein response (UPR) can be activated by HCV NS4B through inducing both XBP1 mRNA splicing and ATF6 cleavage in human hepatic cells. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that HCV NS4B stimulates the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by perturbing intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. Luciferase assay showed that HCV NS4B also activates the multifunctional transcription factor, NF-κB, in a dose-dependent manner through Ca2+ signaling and ROS. Further immunoblot analysis showed that HCV NS4B promotes NF-κB translocation into the nucleus via protein-tyrosine kinase (PTK) mediated phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of IκBα. These studies provide an important insight into the implication of NS4B in HCV life cycle and HCV-associated liver disease by affecting host intracellular signal transduction pathways. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

One of the global burdens of health care is an alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) and liver-related death which is caused due to acute or chronic consumption of alcohol. Chronic consumption of alcohol damage the normal defense mechanism of the liver and likely to disturb the gut barrier system, mucosal immune cells, which leads to decreased nutrient absorption. Therapy of ALD depends upon the spectrum of liver injury that causes fatty liver, hepatitis, and cirrhosis. The foundation of therapy starts with abstinence from alcohol. Corticosteroids are used for the treatment of ALD but due to poor acceptance, continuing mortality, and identification of tumor necrosis factor-alpha as an integral component in pathogenesis, recent studies focus on pentoxifylline and, antitumor necrosis factor antibody to neutralize cytokines in the therapy of severe alcoholic hepatitis. Antioxidants also play a significant role in the treatment but till today there is no universally accepted therapy available for any stage of ALD. The treatment aspects need to restore the gut functions and require nutrient-based treatments to regulate the functions of the gut system and prevent liver injury. The vital action of saturated fatty acids greatly controls the gut barrier. Overall, this review mainly focuses on the mechanism of alcohol-induced metabolic dysfunction, contribution to liver pathogenesis, the effect of pregnancy, and targeted therapy of ALD., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.)