The liver has a central role in regulating inflammation by its capacity to secrete a number of proteins that control both local and systemic inflammatory responses. Chronic inflammation or an exaggerated inflammatory ...The liver has a central role in regulating inflammation by its capacity to secrete a number of proteins that control both local and systemic inflammatory responses. Chronic inflammation or an exaggerated inflammatory response can produce detrimental effects on target organs. Chronic hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection causes liver inflammation by complex and not yet well-understood molecular pathways, including direct viral effects and indirect mechanisms involving cytokine pathways,oxidative stress and steatosis induction. An increasing body of evidence recognizes the inflammatory response in chronic hepatitis C as pathogenically linked to the development of both liver-limited injury(fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma) and extrahepatic HCV-related diseases(lymphoproliferative disease,atherosclerosis, cardiovascular and brain disease). Defining the complex mechanisms of HCV-induced inflammation could be crucial to determine the global impact of infection, to estimate progression of the disease, and to explore novel therapeutic approaches to avert HCVrelated diseases. This review focuses on HCV-related clinical conditions as a result of chronic liver and systemic inflammatory states.展开更多
Hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection represents a major health issue worldwide due to its burden of chronic liver disease and extrahepatic manifestations including cardiovascular diseases,which are associated with excess m...Hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection represents a major health issue worldwide due to its burden of chronic liver disease and extrahepatic manifestations including cardiovascular diseases,which are associated with excess mortality.Analysis of published studies supports the view that HCV infection should be considered a risk factor for the development of carotid atherosclerosis,heart failure and stroke.In contrast,findings from studies addressing coronary artery disease and HCV have yielded conflicting results.Therefore,meta-analytic reviews and prospective studies are warranted.The pathogenic mechanisms connecting HCV infection,chronic liver disease,and atherogenesis are not completely understood.However,it has been hypothesized that HCV may promote atherogenesis and its complications through several direct and indirect biological mechanisms involving HCV colonization and replication within arterial walls,liver steatosis and fibrosis,enhanced and imbalanced secretion of inflammatory cytokines,oxidative stress,endotoxemia,mixed cryoglobulinemia,perturbed cellular and humoral immunity,hyperhomocysteinemia,hypo-adiponectinaemia,insulin resistance,type 2 diabetes and other components of the metabolic syndrome.Understanding these complex mechanisms is of fundamental importance for the development of novel therapeutic approaches to prevent and to treat vascular complications in patients with chronic HCV infection.Currently,it seems that HCV clearance by interferon and ribavirin treatment significantly reduces non-liver-related mortality;moreover,interferon-based treatment appears to decrease the risk of ischemic stroke.展开更多
The year 2014 marked the beginning of the end of the interferon era and the triumph of the all-oral interferon-free regimens for treatment of hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection. These innovative therapies are safe and y...The year 2014 marked the beginning of the end of the interferon era and the triumph of the all-oral interferon-free regimens for treatment of hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection. These innovative therapies are safe and yield a cure rate of over 90%. The scientifichepatology community is euphoric about the possibility of elimination and even eradication of HCV infection. However,the current high cost of the new all-oral regimens allows access to treatment only for a restricted number of HCV-infected patients. In addition,many other conditions such as modality of access and delivery of care,inadequate knowledge of HCV epidemiology and political commitments to be undertaken,hamper the fulfillment of the dream to eliminate the virus. Since,such conditions are not impossible to overcome,a global urgent effort must be made to allow a widespread access to the new treatments which will permit in the next years to avoid million of HCV-related deaths.展开更多
文摘The liver has a central role in regulating inflammation by its capacity to secrete a number of proteins that control both local and systemic inflammatory responses. Chronic inflammation or an exaggerated inflammatory response can produce detrimental effects on target organs. Chronic hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection causes liver inflammation by complex and not yet well-understood molecular pathways, including direct viral effects and indirect mechanisms involving cytokine pathways,oxidative stress and steatosis induction. An increasing body of evidence recognizes the inflammatory response in chronic hepatitis C as pathogenically linked to the development of both liver-limited injury(fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma) and extrahepatic HCV-related diseases(lymphoproliferative disease,atherosclerosis, cardiovascular and brain disease). Defining the complex mechanisms of HCV-induced inflammation could be crucial to determine the global impact of infection, to estimate progression of the disease, and to explore novel therapeutic approaches to avert HCVrelated diseases. This review focuses on HCV-related clinical conditions as a result of chronic liver and systemic inflammatory states.
文摘Hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection represents a major health issue worldwide due to its burden of chronic liver disease and extrahepatic manifestations including cardiovascular diseases,which are associated with excess mortality.Analysis of published studies supports the view that HCV infection should be considered a risk factor for the development of carotid atherosclerosis,heart failure and stroke.In contrast,findings from studies addressing coronary artery disease and HCV have yielded conflicting results.Therefore,meta-analytic reviews and prospective studies are warranted.The pathogenic mechanisms connecting HCV infection,chronic liver disease,and atherogenesis are not completely understood.However,it has been hypothesized that HCV may promote atherogenesis and its complications through several direct and indirect biological mechanisms involving HCV colonization and replication within arterial walls,liver steatosis and fibrosis,enhanced and imbalanced secretion of inflammatory cytokines,oxidative stress,endotoxemia,mixed cryoglobulinemia,perturbed cellular and humoral immunity,hyperhomocysteinemia,hypo-adiponectinaemia,insulin resistance,type 2 diabetes and other components of the metabolic syndrome.Understanding these complex mechanisms is of fundamental importance for the development of novel therapeutic approaches to prevent and to treat vascular complications in patients with chronic HCV infection.Currently,it seems that HCV clearance by interferon and ribavirin treatment significantly reduces non-liver-related mortality;moreover,interferon-based treatment appears to decrease the risk of ischemic stroke.
文摘The year 2014 marked the beginning of the end of the interferon era and the triumph of the all-oral interferon-free regimens for treatment of hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection. These innovative therapies are safe and yield a cure rate of over 90%. The scientifichepatology community is euphoric about the possibility of elimination and even eradication of HCV infection. However,the current high cost of the new all-oral regimens allows access to treatment only for a restricted number of HCV-infected patients. In addition,many other conditions such as modality of access and delivery of care,inadequate knowledge of HCV epidemiology and political commitments to be undertaken,hamper the fulfillment of the dream to eliminate the virus. Since,such conditions are not impossible to overcome,a global urgent effort must be made to allow a widespread access to the new treatments which will permit in the next years to avoid million of HCV-related deaths.
