Association of Cholesterol Ester Transfer Protein Taq IB Polymorphism With Acute Coronary Syndrome in Egyptian National Patients.

Background: The association between cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) Taq IB polymorphism and coronary artery disease (CAD) has been studied in different populations. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a group of clinical symptoms within acute myocardial ischemia, including unstable angina (UA) and myocardial infarction (MI). Because there are no data reported in the literature concerning the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) Taq IB polymorphism in Egyptians, our study aimed to investigate the frequency of different CETP Taq IB genotypes in Egyptian patients with ACS and in healthy control individuals.

HepG2 cells support viral replication and gene expression of hepatitis C virus genotype 4 in vitro.

Aim: To establish a cell culture system with long-term replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome and expression of viral antigens in vitro.

Methods: HepG2 cell line was tested for its susceptibility to HCV by incubation with a serum from a patient with chronic hepatitis C. Cells and supernatant were harvested at various time points during the culture.

Antisense oligonucleotide inhibition of hepatitis C virus genotype 4 replication in HepG2 cells.

Background: Hepatitis C (HCV) viral infection is a serious medical problem in Egypt and it has a devastating impact on the Egyptian economy. It is estimated that over 15% of Egyptians are infected by the virus and thus finding a cure for this disease is of utmost importance. Current therapies for hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4 with interferon/ribavirin have not been successful and thus the development of alternative therapy for this genotype is desperately needed.

Soluble egg antigen of Schistosoma Haematobium induces HCV replication in PBMC from patients with chronic HCV infection.

Background: This study was conducted to examine, in vitro , the effect of soluble egg antigen (SEA) of S. haematobium on intracellular HCV RNA load in peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC) as well as on cell proliferation in patients with chronic HCV infection.

Methods: PBMC from 26 patients with chronic HCV infection were cultured for 72 hours in presence and absence of 50 mug SEA/ml medium.

Antibody to E1 peptide of hepatitis C virus genotype 4 inhibits virus binding and entry to HepG2 cells in vitro.

Aim: To analyze the neutralizing activity of antibodies against E1 region of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Specific polyclonal antibody was raised via immunization of New Zealand rabbits with a synthetic peptide that had been derived from the E1 region of HCV and was shown to be highly conserved among HCV published genotypes.

Methods: Hyper-immune HCV E1 antibodies were incubated over night at 4 degree Celsius with serum samples positive for HCV RNA, with viral loads ranging from 615 to 3.