Differential modulation of hepatitis C virus replication and innate immune pathways by synthetic calcitriol-analogs.

Background And Aims: Vitamin D signaling is involved in infectious and non-infectious liver diseases, yet the natural vitamin D metabolites are suboptimal therapeutic agents. In the present study, we therefore aimed to explore the potential and mechanism of selected calcitriol analogs to regulate the hepatocellular transcriptome and to inhibit hepatitis C virus (HCV) in comparison with calcitriol.

Methods: Human hepatoma cell lines and primary human macrophages were stimulated with calcitriol and selected calcitriol analogs.