From Book News, Inc.
Drawn from a June 2001 conference on new strategies for the treatment of liver cirrhosis, these 24 papers address the general mechanisms of formation and degradation of the extracellular matrix compared with those in the liver, and the possibilities offered by gene therapy. The researchers investigate the cells responsible for extracellular matrix production, the activation mechanism of hepatic stellate cells, matrix metalloproteinases, and their tissue inhibitors. Other topics include basement membrane collagen IV gene expression in malignant tumors, a matricellular protein that regulates cell-matrix interaction, retinoids in liver fibrosis, and the role of growth hormone resistance.Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Book Description
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

Book Info
Tokai Univ. School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan. Text reflects material presented at the International Conference on New Strategies for the Treatment of Liver Cirrhosis, held in Tokyo, Japan June 6-9, 2001. Addresses the new strategies for the treatment of all kinds of liver cirrhosis. Expanded-outline format.

From the Back Cover
Extracellular Matrix and the Liver is an overview of recent progress in understanding the cellular and molecular basis of liver fibrosis, with a review of prospective targets for therapy.

Cirrhosis of the liver has been believed to be progressive and incurable. However, interferon therapy for HCV-positive chronic hepatitis and/or liver cirrhosis shows dramatic recovery in some cases. This volume addresses the new strategies for the treatment of all kinds of liver cirrhosis.

The chapters are divided into five sections: * Basic Science of Extracellular Matrix * Cells Responsible for Extracellular Matrix Production * Activation Mechanism of Hepatic Stellate Cells and Signal Transduction * Basic Science for Extracellular Matrix Metabolism Including Enzymes and Their Inhibitors * Matrix Metalloproteinases and Tissue Inhibitors for Matrix Metalloproteinases * New Strategies for the Treatment of Liver Cirrhosis

KEY FEATURES: 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

New Insights into the Extracellular Matrix.
Dynamic Regulation of Basement Membrane Collagen IV Gene Expression in Malignant Tumors.
Regulation of Phenotypes of Human AortaEndothelial Cells and Smooth Muscle Cells in Culture by Type IV Collage Aggregates.
Functions of Proteoglycan/Glycosaminoglycan in Liver; SPARC, A Matricellular Protein that Regulates Cell-Matrix Interaction: Implications for Vascular and Connective Tissue Biology.
Cells Responsible for ECM Production in the Liver. Different Hepatic Cell Populations of the Fibroblast Lineage with Fibrogenic Potential.
Role of Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells in Liver Inflammation and Repair.
Molecular Mechanism of Stellate Cell Activation and ECM Remodeling.
Role of Histone Deacetylases in Transcriptional Control of the Hepatic Stellate Cell Phenotype. Knockout Mice of Matrix Metalloproteinase Genes. Stem Cells Expressing MMP-13 mRNA Appear During Regression Reversal of Hepatic Cirrhosis.