liver cells

Toxic Bile Damages The Liver

admin — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:45:17 -0500

Researchers have discovered a new genetic disease that can lead to severe liver damage. Because a protective component of the bile is missing, the liver cells are exposed to the toxic components of the bile, resulting in cirrhosis of liver. This could explain some of the cases of liver cirrhosis of unknown origin and open up a new approach for treatment.

Hepatotoxicity of Chlorpyrifos in Zebrafish Liver Cells by NMR-b...

admin — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:47:01 -0500

For decades chlorpyrifos (CPS) has been one of the most widely used organophosphate insecticides for a variety of agricultural and public health applications. The extensive use of CPS inevitably results in exposure to a small number of the human population. It is believed that the chemical is metabolically oxidized to its oxygen analog, chlorpyrifos oxon (CPO), which can cause acute toxicity in humans by the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase in the central nervous systems. The metabolical oxidization of CPS to CPO primarily occurs in livers by multiple cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme isoforms.

Safer Gene Therapy May Be Possible Using Novel Approach

admin — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:00:00 -0500

A novel strategy for circumventing safety problems that have plagued gene therapy has been offered by a complex multicenter group of researchers. The study reports that adenovirus type 5, a common vector for delivering gene therapy, transfects liver cells by a different mechanism than previously thought. That mechanism offers a new target for modifying the viral vector to make it safe for clinical use.