BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with the appearance of liver steatosis. AIM: To search for a correlation between the number of HCV infected hepatocytes and the presence, amount and distribution of steatosis. METHODS: A total of 124 frozen liver biopsies from HCV patients (genotype 3 = 21) were studied. HCV-antigens were detected on frozen liver sections using a four steps immunoperoxidase technique. Steatosis was graded by haematoxilin-eosin counterstaining on a serial section. RESULTS: Steatosis was detected in 82 of 124 (66.1%) patients without differences between different genotypes. Uric acid, body mass index, gammaGT levels significantly correlated with steatosis in non-3 (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively) but not in genotype 3 patients. HCV-antigens were detected in 95 of 124 (76.6%) cases. A positive correlation between steatosis and the number of infected hepatocytes was observed only in genotype 3 patients (P = 0.06). In most cases the number of cells with steatosis greatly outnumbered that of HCV infected cells. CONCLUSION: We confirm a possible role of the virus in the genesis of steatosis in HCV genotype 3 infected patients; however, as steatosis do not appear to be directly related to the presence of HCV-antigens within single hepatocytes, an indirect, possibly cytokine mediated, mechanism might be operative.

HCV liver infection and liver steatosis:evidence for indirect mechanisms in genotype 3? / Grassi A; Ballardini G; Susca M; Bianchini F; Bonoli S; Bianchi FB; Lenzi M. - In: ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS. - ISSN 0269-2813. - STAMPA. - 22 Suppl 2:(2005), pp. 79-82.

HCV liver infection and liver steatosis:evidence for indirect mechanisms in genotype 3?

LENZI, MARCO;BIANCHI, FRANCESCO BIANCO
2005

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with the appearance of liver steatosis. AIM: To search for a correlation between the number of HCV infected hepatocytes and the presence, amount and distribution of steatosis. METHODS: A total of 124 frozen liver biopsies from HCV patients (genotype 3 = 21) were studied. HCV-antigens were detected on frozen liver sections using a four steps immunoperoxidase technique. Steatosis was graded by haematoxilin-eosin counterstaining on a serial section. RESULTS: Steatosis was detected in 82 of 124 (66.1%) patients without differences between different genotypes. Uric acid, body mass index, gammaGT levels significantly correlated with steatosis in non-3 (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively) but not in genotype 3 patients. HCV-antigens were detected in 95 of 124 (76.6%) cases. A positive correlation between steatosis and the number of infected hepatocytes was observed only in genotype 3 patients (P = 0.06). In most cases the number of cells with steatosis greatly outnumbered that of HCV infected cells. CONCLUSION: We confirm a possible role of the virus in the genesis of steatosis in HCV genotype 3 infected patients; however, as steatosis do not appear to be directly related to the presence of HCV-antigens within single hepatocytes, an indirect, possibly cytokine mediated, mechanism might be operative.
2005
HCV liver infection and liver steatosis:evidence for indirect mechanisms in genotype 3? / Grassi A; Ballardini G; Susca M; Bianchini F; Bonoli S; Bianchi FB; Lenzi M. - In: ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS. - ISSN 0269-2813. - STAMPA. - 22 Suppl 2:(2005), pp. 79-82.
Grassi A; Ballardini G; Susca M; Bianchini F; Bonoli S; Bianchi FB; Lenzi M
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/51861
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