Hepatitis C virus replication.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to T Goeser.
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Of 32 patients with non-A, non-B hepatitis, 10 (31%) were still anti-HCV-positive 12.8 years after the acute phase of the disease. Seven of the patients (21.9%) still had elevated ALT levels, and among these, 5 out of 5 patients who had been subject to parenteral risk were anti-HCV-positive. In contrast, none of the patients who had not been subject to parenteral risks were positive.
To investigate the possible role of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in fulminant and subacute liver failure, we tested serum and liver of 13 patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation for the presence of HCV RNA. HCV RNA was detected in specimens from two out of eight patients negative for all viral markers with suspected hepatitis non-A, non-B infection and in one out of four patients with hepatitis B virus infection. Only in this patient replication of HCV could be demonstrated. We conclude, that fulminant and subacute hepatic failure is induced by hepatitis C virus only in few patients with hepatitis non-A, non-B.
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Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) was performed for liver failure related to hepatitis non-A, non-B (HNANB) or hepatitis C (HCV) infections in 12 patients. Of those, 8 patients had chronic and 4 acute hepatic failure. To determine the incidence of recurrent infection, the clinical course, histological findings and serological HCV markers (HCV-RNA and detection of anti HCV antibodies, respectively) were comparatively studied in these patients. Recurrent infection was apparent in 5 of 6 patients transplanted for liver cirrhosis attributable to chronic HCV infection and with HCV-RNA detectable in serum. The clinical course of infection after OLT varied considerably. Chronic active hepatitis, progressing to liver cirrhosis 13 months postoperatively and an acute hepatitis, resolving spontaneously were seen in one case each. Recurrent infection led to chronic persistent hepatitis in the remainder. None of the patients with acute liver failure experienced recurrent infection. HCV-RNA was detectable in all the patients after OLT, with HCV-RNA present pretransplant, however the presence of HCV-RNA in serum was not necessarily associated with clinical illness.
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In previous studies, we identified a 55 kD organic anion-binding protein in liver cell sinusoidal plasma membrane subfractions. Other investigators identified another 55 kD bromosulfophthalein/bilirubin binding protein on the surface of rat hepatocytes and HepG2 cells and suggested that this protein served as a transporter for these ligands. In this study, transport of 35S-sulfobromophthalein by the human hepatoma cell line, HepG2, was quantified in the presence and absence of bovine serum albumin to further clarify the possible function of these plasma membrane binding proteins. In contrast to results in normal rat hepatocytes, virtually no uptake of 35S-sulfobromophthalein by HepG2 cells in the presence of bovine serum albumin was found. In the absence of albumin, HepG2 cells expressed temperature-dependent uptake of 35S-sulfobromophthalein. However, the high-affinity Cl(-)-dependent sulfobromophthalein transport that characterizes normal rat hepatocytes was absent, as indicated by an approximately 95-fold lower affinity and 170-fold higher capacity of HepG2 cells for sulfobromophthalein compared with previous results with rat hepatocytes. These results suggest that 55 kD sulfobromophthalein/bilirubin-binding protein on the liver cell surface differs from organic anion-binding protein and is not responsible for sulfobromophthalein extraction in the presence of albumin, although it may play some role in lower affinity transport by cells. Immunoblot analysis and metabolic labeling of HepG2 cells demonstrated synthesis of organic anion-binding protein. However, light microscopic immunocytochemistry and immunoprecipitation of surface iodinated rat hepatocytes and HepG2 cells with antibody to a recombinant organic anion-binding protein fusion protein indicated absence of organic anion-binding protein on the surface of HepG2 cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A receptor for hepatitis B virus (HBV) on hepatocytes has been postulated. There is increasing evidence that the binding of the virus to the target cell surface is mediated by epitopes of the pre-S proteins of the HBV envelope. In contrast to vaccination with HBsAg, passive immunization for the prevention of HBV infection is less effective. Using antibodies against the pre-S proteins, representing the putative attachment site for HBV binding to hepatocytes, a more efficient means of protection might be achieved.
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In patients with cholestasis, levels of sulfated bile acids rise. Sulfate esters of chenodeoxycholic acid are the most abundant of these bile acid sulfates. These compounds are taken up by the liver and excreted into bile, although their plasma clearance and biliary excretion are reduced compared with that of unsulfated bile acids. It is not clear whether this is due to differences in intrinsic hepatic uptake or biliary excretion. In the present study, single-pass transport kinetics of chenodeoxycholic acid 3-alpha-sulfate, chenodeoxycholic acid 7-alpha-sulfate and unsulfated chenodeoxycholic acid were quantified in isolated perfused rat liver. Influx of the 7-alpha- and 3-alpha-sulfated derivatives was 57% and 20% that of chenodeoxycholic acid, respectively. These three compounds bound to albumin equally well, indicating that this was not a factor in their differential uptake. Although single-pass extraction of material taken up by the liver was identical. There was no difference in bile flow or biliary excretion of material taken up by the liver was identical. There was no difference in bile flow or biliary excretion rate, regardless of which bile acid sulfate was tested. These results indicate that the low plasma elimination of sulfated bile acids previously observed by others can be explained by low hepatic influx. The diminished transport into liver resulting from sulfation could lead to enhanced elimination of bile acids by the kidney.
A 55-kD organic anion binding protein (OABP) was identified previously in liver cell plasma membrane sinusoidal subfractions. Although this protein was localized to the surface of hepatocytes by immunofluorescence, immunoblot analysis revealed reactivity toward both plasma membrane and mitochondrial fractions. To clarify these findings, an immunoreactive clone from a rat liver cDNA expression library was isolated, the 1,500-base pair cDNA insert was sequenced, and the corresponding beta-galactosidase fusion protein was expressed and purified. The resulting sequence corresponded to that of the rat mitochondrial F1-adenosine triphosphatase (F1-ATPase) beta-subunit. This protein and OABP are of similar size and are mutually immunologically cross-reactive. That the antigen was present on the cell surface as well as in mitochondria was suggested from studies of immunoprecipitation after cell-surface iodination, and light- and electron-microscopic immunocytochemistry. Photoaffinity labeling of bovine F1-ATPase with high-specific-activity [35S]sulfobromophthalein revealed binding only to the beta-subunit. Hepatocyte uptake of bilirubin and sulfobromophthalein requires cellular ATP and mitochondria also transport these organic anions, which at high doses inhibit respiration. The presence of an organic anion binding site on the F1-ATPase beta-subunit suggests that it may play a role in these processes.