Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a successful pathogen on the grounds that it exploits its host's metabolism to build up viral particles; moreover it favours its own survival by inducing chronic disease and the development of specific anatomic changes in the infected organ. Steatosis, therefore, is associated with HCV infection by necessity rather than by chance alone. Approximately 6% of HCV patients have steatohepatitis. Interestingly, HCV steatosis occurs in the setting of multiple metabolic abnormalities (hyperuricemia, reversible hypocholesterolemia, insulin resistance, arterial hypertension and expansion of visceral adipose tissue) collectively referred to as "hepatitis C-associated dysmetabolic syndrome" (HCADS). General, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-like, mechanisms of steatogenesis (including increased availability of lipogenic substrates and de novo lipogenesis; decreased oxidation of fatty substrates and export of fatty substrates) are shared by all HCV genotypes. However, genotype 3 seemingly amplifies such steatogenic molecular mechanisms reported to occur in NAFLD via more profound changes in microsomal triglyceride transfer protein; peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha; sterol regulatory element-binding proteins and phosphatase and tensin homologue. HCV steatosis has a remarkable clinical impact in as much as it is an acknowledged risk factor for accelerated fibrogenesis; for impaired treatment response to interferon and ribavirin; and development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Recent data, moreover, suggest that HCV-steatosis contributes to premature atherogenesis via both direct and indirect mechanisms. In conclusion, HCV steatosis fulfills all expected requirements necessary to perpetuate the HCV life cycle. A better understanding of the physiology of HCADS will likely result in a more successful handling of disease with improved antiviral success rates. © 2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.

Pathogenesis and significance of hepatitis C virus steatosis: An update on survival strategy of a successful pathogen / Lonardo, Amedeo; Adinolfi, Luigi Elio; Restivo, Luciano; Ballestri, Stefano; Romagnoli, Dante; Baldelli, Enrica; Nascimbeni, Fabio; Loria, Paola. - In: WORLD JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY. - ISSN 1007-9327. - 20:23(2014), pp. 7089-7103. [10.3748/wjg.v20.i23.7089]

Pathogenesis and significance of hepatitis C virus steatosis: An update on survival strategy of a successful pathogen

Adinolfi, Luigi Elio;Ballestri, Stefano;Romagnoli, Dante;Baldelli, Enrica;Nascimbeni, Fabio;Loria, Paola
2014

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a successful pathogen on the grounds that it exploits its host's metabolism to build up viral particles; moreover it favours its own survival by inducing chronic disease and the development of specific anatomic changes in the infected organ. Steatosis, therefore, is associated with HCV infection by necessity rather than by chance alone. Approximately 6% of HCV patients have steatohepatitis. Interestingly, HCV steatosis occurs in the setting of multiple metabolic abnormalities (hyperuricemia, reversible hypocholesterolemia, insulin resistance, arterial hypertension and expansion of visceral adipose tissue) collectively referred to as "hepatitis C-associated dysmetabolic syndrome" (HCADS). General, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-like, mechanisms of steatogenesis (including increased availability of lipogenic substrates and de novo lipogenesis; decreased oxidation of fatty substrates and export of fatty substrates) are shared by all HCV genotypes. However, genotype 3 seemingly amplifies such steatogenic molecular mechanisms reported to occur in NAFLD via more profound changes in microsomal triglyceride transfer protein; peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha; sterol regulatory element-binding proteins and phosphatase and tensin homologue. HCV steatosis has a remarkable clinical impact in as much as it is an acknowledged risk factor for accelerated fibrogenesis; for impaired treatment response to interferon and ribavirin; and development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Recent data, moreover, suggest that HCV-steatosis contributes to premature atherogenesis via both direct and indirect mechanisms. In conclusion, HCV steatosis fulfills all expected requirements necessary to perpetuate the HCV life cycle. A better understanding of the physiology of HCADS will likely result in a more successful handling of disease with improved antiviral success rates. © 2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
2014
20
23
7089
7103
Pathogenesis and significance of hepatitis C virus steatosis: An update on survival strategy of a successful pathogen / Lonardo, Amedeo; Adinolfi, Luigi Elio; Restivo, Luciano; Ballestri, Stefano; Romagnoli, Dante; Baldelli, Enrica; Nascimbeni, Fabio; Loria, Paola. - In: WORLD JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY. - ISSN 1007-9327. - 20:23(2014), pp. 7089-7103. [10.3748/wjg.v20.i23.7089]
Lonardo, Amedeo; Adinolfi, Luigi Elio; Restivo, Luciano; Ballestri, Stefano; Romagnoli, Dante; Baldelli, Enrica; Nascimbeni, Fabio; Loria, Paola...espandi
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
WJG-20-7089.pdf

Accesso riservato

Tipologia: Versione pubblicata dall'editore
Dimensione 1.46 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.46 MB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia
Pubblicazioni consigliate

Licenza Creative Commons
I metadati presenti in IRIS UNIMORE sono rilasciati con licenza Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal, mentre i file delle pubblicazioni sono rilasciati con licenza Attribuzione 4.0 Internazionale (CC BY 4.0), salvo diversa indicazione.
In caso di violazione di copyright, contattare Supporto Iris

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11380/1164272
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 33
  • Scopus 80
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 77
social impact