Hepatitis C Virus Heterogeneity: Lipoprotein and Immunoglobulin Binding and Clinical Status

摘要: Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of liver disease globally.1 More than 350,000 people die from hepatitis C-related diseases each year.2 Persistent HCV can progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.1 Thus, morbidity mortality worldwide.3 The range severity in individual patients with broad. spectrum infected ranges asymptomatic carriers, chronic variable end-stage cirrhosis.4 rate progression the cirrhotic stage also varies widely amongst HCV-infected individuals. Studies by our group others5,6 have demonstrated that low density fraction represents “infectious, active” plasma, consists bound lipoprotein (LDL). Agnello colleagues proposed LDL receptor plays role cellular entry into hepatocytes.7 Further studies support infection.8 In acute infection, viral RNA linked plasma LDL, states, high which thought be immunoglobulin-bound.5 An intermediate has been identified more recently, likely lipoprotein-bound.9 To further investigate idiosyncratic relationship between HCV, IgG, we attempted determine whether high, levels are related clinical status disease. HCV titer six varying severities were analyzed Differential Flotation Ultracentrifugation quantification, according techniques reported Watson colleagues5 Pumeechockchai colleagues.10 subjects' presentation was compared differential fractions. Baseline sequential function tests performed five out proceeded biopsy for purposes. virus serology genotype data (Table 1). Table 1 Clinical serological analyzed. All patients, except Patient 5, had mild as on biopsy. 5 severe disease, including carcinoma. Patients 1–4 inter-patient differences amount quantitative (immunoglobulin-bound) fraction, (lipoprotein-bound) However, this not statistically significant or within patients. 6 found negative PCR, thus, fractions could determined these This may due difficulties extraction process after ultracentrifugation. The results small pilot study do clearly demonstrate an association buoyant A limitation sample size. technique ultracentrifugation, quantification extremely labor intensive, would render larger size difficult. demonstrates complexity binding human host. investigation required.