Reciprocal interference between insulin and interferon-alpha signaling in hepatic cells: a vicious circle of clinical significance?

Unlabelled: Insulin resistance (IR) is common in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and associates with reduced virological response to pegylated-interferon (PEG-IFN)/ribavirin therapy, but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. We have previously shown that, in CHC patients, insulin plasma levels are inversely related to antiviral effect induced by PEG-IFN. Therefore, we investigated the in vitro effect of insulin on interferon alpha (IFN-α) intracellular signaling as well as that of IFN-α on insulin signaling.

A seven-gene signature (cirrhosis risk score) predicts liver fibrosis progression in patients with initially mild chronic hepatitis C.

Unlabelled: Fibrosis progression is the main determinant of liver disease outcome in chronic hepatitis C, being influenced by environmental and host factors. Recently, a cirrhosis risk score (CRS) based on seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms was proposed as genetic predictor of cirrhosis in hepatitis C. To assess the role of CRS in predicting fibrosis progression in patients with initially no or minimal to moderate fibrosis, we investigated 271 untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C having initial liver biopsy showing METAVIR stage F0 (n = 104), F1 (n = 101), or F2 (n = 59) who had been followed up without antiviral therapies for at least 60 months (mean 108.

Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein polymorphism (-493G/T) is associated with hepatic steatosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background: Hepatic steatosis may promote progression of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) is required for assembly and secretion of ApoB lipoprotein and is implicated in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related steatosis. The MTP -493G/T polymorphism may promote liver fat accumulation, but its role in HCV-related steatosis is still unclear.

Liver microsomal triglyceride transfer protein is involved in hepatitis C liver steatosis.

Background & Aims: Hepatic steatosis is frequent in chronic hepatitis C. Several mechanisms might be implicated, including metabolic cofactors and direct viral effects on intracellular lipid pathways. In a transgenic mouse model, hepatitis C virus (HCV) was shown to inhibit microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) activity, which is essential for hepatic lipoprotein assembly and secretion.