This book is the proceedings of the Falk Symposium No. 138 on "State of the Art of Hepatology: Molecular and Cell Biology" (part of the XII International Falk Liver Week 2003 in honour of Hans Popper's 100th birthday, held on October 20--11, 2003), and reflects the tremendous advances in the science of hepatology both at the molecular as well as the cellular level.

The book comprises four major sections. In Section I, the basic aspects of liver cell biology are covered, including RNA metabolism, regeneration, transport and metabolic functions, as well as fibrogenesis and malignant transformation. In Section II, the novel field of stem cell plasticity and cell therapy for liver diseases is discussed in detail, including stem cell biology, hepatocyte transdifferentiation from extrahepatic stem cells and their therapeutic use for liver cell repopulation, as well as hepatocyte transplantation. In Section III, novel therapeutic strategies for liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma are presented, including the reversal of liver fibrosis, oncolytic biotherapy and different concepts of gene therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. In Section IV, novel aspects of gene therapy and prevention of liver diseases are addressed, including small interfering RNAs, ribozymes, antisense oligonucleotides, as well as DNA vaccination.

An international faculty of outstanding scientists from different research areas presents the state of the art on these most important aspects of hepatology and their perspectives for future developments. Molecular and cell biology are at the very centre of research developments in modern hepatology and are of interest and importance to both basic scientists as well as clinicians involved in patient care.

Inhalt

Preface. Section I: Basic Aspects of Liver Cell Biology. 1: Extra- and intracellular control of CD95 induced apoptosis in hepatocytes; M Schuchmann, S Strand, D Strand, PR Galle. 2: Senescence and chromosomal instability induced by telomere shortening affect liver regeneration and hepatocarcinogenesis; SU Wiemann, MP Manns, KL Rudolph. 3: Mechanisms of liver regeneration; T Ludde, T Wuestefeld, MP Manns, CT Trautwein. 4: Hepatic transport and metabolism; PJ Meier-Abt. 5: Immune functions of the liver; PA Knolle, A Limmer. 6: Molecular regulation of hepatic fibrosis; SL Friedman. 7: Liver cell biology: differentiation and malignant transformation; M Ozturk, E Erdal, N Ozturk, R Cetin-Atalay, B Irmak. Section II: Stem Cell Plasticity and Cell Therapy. 8: Stem cell plasticity studies in the liver; IH Pilz, F von Weizsacker, H Glimm, M Schmidt, C von Kalle. 9: Non-human primate liver progenitor cells and their transplantation into animal models; A Weber, A Parouchev, J-P Delgado, L Cam, I Dagher, D Mahieu, M Andreoletti, P Leboulch, D Franco. 10: Biological aspects of hepatocyte transplantation for applications in cell therapy; S Gupta, V Kumaran, B Joseph, D Benten. Section III: Novel Approaches to Liver Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. 11: Reversal of liver fibrosis; Y Iimuro, J Fujimoto. 12: DNA-based immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma; M Geissler, C Grimm, M Ali, M Ritter, L Mohr, HE Blum. 13: Suicide gene therapy; L Mohr, MMB Rodriguez, S-M Ryu, S Freisberg, O Polske, TU Krohne, M Geissler, HE Blum. 14: Gene therapy of liver cancer: the present and the future; J Prieto, C Qian, M Herraiz, R Hernandez-Alcoceba, M-G Kramer, C Smerdou, G Mazzolini, I Melero, B Sangro. Section IV: Gene Therapy and Prevention of Liver Diseases. 15: Gene transfer; MA Kay. 16: Targeted gene repair: from RNA/DNA to single-stranded oligonucleotides; W Yin, BT Kren, CJ Steer. 17: Identification of a cellular protein required for hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site (IRES) mediated translation; T Peng, H Tang, F Wong-Staal. 18: Antisense oligonucleotides; W-B Offensperger, C Thoma, P Hasselblatt, HE Blum. 19: Interfering polypeptides; F von Weizsacke. 20: Novel vaccine strategies; H Barth, TF Baumert. Index