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Fabrizi F, Lunghi G, Martin P. Treatment of HCV-related Liver Disease in the Dialysis Population: A Novel Challenge for Clinical Nephrologists. Int J Artif Organs 2018. [DOI: 10.1177/039139880102400602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- F. Fabrizi
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Maggiore Hospital, IRCCS, Milan - Italy
| | - G. Lunghi
- Institute of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Maggiore Hospital, IRCCS, Milan - Italy
| | - P. Martin
- Liver Transplant Program, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA - USA
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2
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Holmes JA, Congiu M, Bonanzinga S, Sandhu MK, Kia YH, Bell SJ, Nguyen T, Iser DM, Visvanathan K, Sievert W, Bowden DS, Desmond PV, Thompson AJ. The relationships between IFNL4 genotype, intrahepatic interferon-stimulated gene expression and interferon treatment response differs in HCV-1 compared with HCV-3. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2015; 42:296-306. [PMID: 26032235 DOI: 10.1111/apt.13263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2015] [Revised: 02/02/2015] [Accepted: 05/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The biological mechanism underlying the association between IFNL4/IFNL3 polymorphism and peginterferon/ribavirin (PR) response in HCV-1 is thought to involve differential intrahepatic interferon-stimulated gene expression. HCV-3 is more sensitive to PR, but there are no studies of the association between IFNL4 polymorphism, PR treatment response and liver interferon-stimulated gene expression in HCV-3. AIM We evaluated the association between IFNL4/IFNL3 genotypes, PR treatment outcomes and intrahepatic interferon-stimulated gene expression, according to HCV genotype. METHODS HCV-1 and HCV-3 patients who received PR therapy were identified. IFNL3 (rs12979860) and IFNL4 genotype (rs368234815) were determined. A second cohort with stored liver specimens was identified. Expression of ISGs was measured by rt-PCR. RESULTS Two hundred and fifty-nine patients were identified: 55% HCV-1, 45% HCV-3. IFNL4 genotype frequency was TT/TT 44%, TT/ΔG 42% andΔG/ΔG 14%. Linkage disequilibrium with IFNL3 genotype was high (r(2) = 0.98). The association between IFNL4 genotype and PR response was attenuated in HCV-3 vs. HCV-1 (HCV-3: SVR 89% vs. 76% vs. 72% for TT/TT vs. TT/ΔG vs. ΔG/ΔG, P = 0.09; HCV-1: SVR: 82% vs. 29% vs. 24%, P < 0.001). Intrahepatic ISG expression was evaluated in 92 patients; 61% HCV-1. The association between IFNL4 genotype and liver ISG expression was significantly different for HCV-3 vs. HCV-1 (P-value for interaction = 0.046), with levels of interferon-stimulated gene expression being highest in HCV-1 patients who carried a poor-response IFNL4 genotype. CONCLUSIONS The relationship between IFNL4 genotype and PR treatment response as well as intrahepatic interferon-stimulated gene expression differs between HCV-1 and HCV-3. These data suggest fundamental differences in host-virus interactions according to HCV genotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Holmes
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent's Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Vic., Australia
| | - M Congiu
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent's Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Vic., Australia
| | - S Bonanzinga
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, The Doherty Institute, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
| | - M K Sandhu
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent's Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Vic., Australia
| | - Y H Kia
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent's Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Vic., Australia
| | - S J Bell
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent's Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Vic., Australia
| | - T Nguyen
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent's Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Vic., Australia
| | - D M Iser
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent's Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Vic., Australia
| | - K Visvanathan
- Immunology Research Centre, St Vincent's Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Vic., Australia
| | - W Sievert
- Department of Gastroenterology, Monash Medical Centre, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia
| | - D S Bowden
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, The Doherty Institute, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
| | - P V Desmond
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent's Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Vic., Australia
| | - A J Thompson
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent's Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Vic., Australia
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, The Doherty Institute, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
- Department of Gastroenterology, Duke University Medical Centre, Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC, USA
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3
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Bukowska-Ośko I, Radkowski M, Pawełczyk A, Rosinska M, Caraballo Cortés K, Płoski R, Berak H, Horban A, Stanczak J, Fic M, Laskus T. Hepatitis C virus 5' untranslated region variability correlates with treatment outcome. J Viral Hepat 2014; 21:551-9. [PMID: 24118647 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.12182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2013] [Accepted: 09/08/2013] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) variability affects viral-host interactions. We analysed HCV 5'untranslated region (5'UTR) in sera and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from chronic hepatitis C patients undergoing antiviral treatment. We studied 139 patients treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. The primary endpoint was a sustained virological response (SVR) defined as negative HCV RNA level 24 weeks after the end of therapy. 5'UTR was analysed by single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) and sequencing. The pretreatment SSCP pattern in serum and PBMC differed in 26 (18.7%) patients. During therapy, the SSCP pattern remained stable in 65 (60.8%) patients, number of bands declined in 16 (15.0%), and in 18 (16.8%) patients, changes were qualified as 'shift' indicating change in band positions. In univariate analysis, there was a significant (P ≤ 0.05) positive association between SVR and pretreatment serum and PBMC dissimilarities, initial viral load <10(6) IU/mL, IL-28B CC genotype of the rs12979860 single nucleotide polymorphism and change in the SSCP band pattern (either 'shift' or decline) In multivariable analysis, only low initial viral load, IL-28B genotype, and changes in the SSCP band pattern were independent factors associated with SVR. In conclusion, stability of 5'UTR correlated with infection persistence, while changes correlated with SVR.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Bukowska-Ośko
- Department of Immunopathology, Warsaw Medical University, Warsaw, Poland
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4
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Jardim ACG, Bittar C, Matos RPA, Yamasaki LHT, Silva RA, Pinho JRR, Fachini RM, Carareto CMA, de Carvalho-Mello IMVG, Rahal P. Analysis of HCV quasispecies dynamic under selective pressure of combined therapy. BMC Infect Dis 2013; 13:61. [PMID: 23374983 PMCID: PMC3598780 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-13-61] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2012] [Accepted: 01/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The quasispecies composition of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) could have important implications with regard to viral persistence and response to interferon-based therapy. The complete NS5A was analyzed to evaluate whether the composition of NS5A quasispecies of HCV 1a/1b is related to responsiveness to combined interferon pegylated (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin therapy. Methods Viral RNA was isolated from serum samples collected before, during and after treatment from virological sustained responder (SVR), non-responder (NR) and the end-of-treatment responder patients (ETR). NS5A region was amplified, cloned and sequenced. Six hundred and ninety full-length NS5A sequences were analyzed. Results This study provides evidence that lower nucleotide diversity of the NS5A region pre-therapy is associated with viral clearance. Analysis of samples of NRs and the ETRs time points showed that genetic diversity of populations tend to decrease over time. Post-therapy population of ETRs presented higher genetic distance from baseline probably due to the bottleneck phenomenon observed for those patients in the end of treatment. The viral effective population of those patients also showed a strong decrease after therapy. Otherwise, NRs demonstrated a continuous variation or stability of effective populations and genetic diversity over time that did not seem to be related to therapy. Phylogenetic relationships concerning complete NS5A sequences obtained from patients did not demonstrate clustering associated with specific response patterns. However, distinctive clustering of pre/post-therapy sequences was observed. In addition, the evolution of quasispecies over time was subjected to purifying or relaxed purifying selection. Codons 157 (P03), 182 and 440 (P42), 62 and 404 (P44) were found to be under positive selective pressure but it failed to be related to the therapy. Conclusion These results confirm the hypothesis that a relationship exists between NS5A heterogeneity and response to therapy in patients infected with chronic hepatitis C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana C G Jardim
- Departament of Biology, Institute of Bioscience, Language and Exact Science, São Paulo State University, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
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5
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Lara J, Xia G, Purdy M, Khudyakov Y. Coevolution of the hepatitis C virus polyprotein sites in patients on combined pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy. J Virol 2011; 85:3649-63. [PMID: 21248044 PMCID: PMC3067842 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02197-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2010] [Accepted: 01/07/2011] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Genotype-specific sensitivity of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) to interferon-ribavirin (IFN-RBV) combination therapy and reduced HCV response to IFN-RBV as infection progresses from acute to chronic infection suggest that HCV genetic factors and intrahost HCV evolution play important roles in therapy outcomes. HCV polyprotein sequences (n = 40) from 10 patients with unsustainable response (UR) (breakthrough and relapse) and 10 patients with no response (NR) following therapy were identified through the Virahep-C study. Bayesian networks (BNs) were constructed to relate interrelationships among HCV polymorphic sites to UR/NR outcomes. All models showed an extensive interdependence of HCV sites and strong connections (P ≤ 0.003) to therapy response. Although all HCV proteins contributed to the networks, the topological properties of sites differed among proteins. E2 and NS5A together contributed ∼40% of all sites and ∼62% of all links to the polyprotein BN. The NS5A BN and E2 BN predicted UR/NR outcomes with 85% and 97.5% accuracy, respectively, in 10-fold cross-validation experiments. The NS5A model constructed using physicochemical properties of only five sites was shown to predict the UR/NR outcomes with 83.3% accuracy for 6 UR and 12 NR cases of the HALT-C study. Thus, HCV adaptation to IFN-RBV is a complex trait encoded in the interrelationships among many sites along the entire HCV polyprotein. E2 and NS5A generate broad epistatic connectivity across the HCV polyprotein and essentially shape intrahost HCV evolution toward the IFN-RBV resistance. Both proteins can be used to accurately predict the outcomes of IFN-RBV therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Lara
- Molecular Epidemiology & Bioinformatics Laboratory, Laboratory Branch, Division of Viral Hepatitis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30333
| | - Guoliang Xia
- Molecular Epidemiology & Bioinformatics Laboratory, Laboratory Branch, Division of Viral Hepatitis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30333
| | - Mike Purdy
- Molecular Epidemiology & Bioinformatics Laboratory, Laboratory Branch, Division of Viral Hepatitis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30333
| | - Yury Khudyakov
- Molecular Epidemiology & Bioinformatics Laboratory, Laboratory Branch, Division of Viral Hepatitis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30333
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Figlerowicz M, Jackowiak P, Formanowicz P, Kędziora P, Alejska M, Malinowska N, Błażewicz J, Figlerowicz M. Hepatitis C virus quasispecies in chronically infected children subjected to interferon-ribavirin therapy. Arch Virol 2010; 155:1977-87. [PMID: 20842394 PMCID: PMC2982956 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-010-0789-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2010] [Accepted: 08/27/2010] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that certain features of hepatitis C virus (HCV), especially its high genetic variability, might be responsible for the low efficiency of anti-HCV treatment. Here, we present a bioinformatic analysis of HCV-1a populations isolated from 23 children with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) subjected to interferon-ribavirin therapy. The structures of the viral quasispecies were established based on a 132-amino-acid sequence derived from E1/E2 protein, including hypervariable region 1 (HVR1). Two types of HCV populations were identified. The first type, found in non-responders, contained a small number of closely related variants. The second type, characteristic for sustained responders, was composed of a large number of distantly associated equal-rank variants. Comparison of 445 HVR1 sequences showed that a significant number of variants present in non-responding patients are closely related, suggesting that certain, still unidentified properties of the pathogen may be key factors determining the result of CHC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Figlerowicz
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Child Neurology, Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences, Szpitalna 27/33, 60-572 Poznań, Poland
| | - Paulina Jackowiak
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznań, Poland
| | - Piotr Formanowicz
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznań, Poland
- Institute of Computing Science, Poznań University of Technology, Piotrowo 3A, 60-965 Poznań, Poland
| | - Paweł Kędziora
- Institute of Computing Science, Poznań University of Technology, Piotrowo 3A, 60-965 Poznań, Poland
| | - Magdalena Alejska
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznań, Poland
| | - Nelli Malinowska
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznań, Poland
| | - Jacek Błażewicz
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznań, Poland
- Institute of Computing Science, Poznań University of Technology, Piotrowo 3A, 60-965 Poznań, Poland
| | - Marek Figlerowicz
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznań, Poland
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Shahzamani K, Merat S, Rezvan H, Mirab-Samiee S, Khademi H, Malekzadeh R, Sabahi F. Development of a low-cost real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction technique for the detection and quantification of hepatitis C viral load. Clin Chem Lab Med 2010; 48:777-84. [PMID: 20218905 DOI: 10.1515/cclm.2010.134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is necessary to develop a highly specific and sensitive assay to quantify the exact amount of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in blood of patients with hepatitis C. For this reason, a real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for quantification of HCV RNA in human plasma was developed. METHODS A pair of primers as well as hybridization probes were selected. A real-time RT-PCR was set up and optimized. To establish the sensitivity of the assay, a serial dilution of HCV standards and reference sera, including the six major HCV genotypes, was used. The performance of the assay was evaluated with 191 known HCV-RNA positive and 100 negative samples. RESULTS The real-time assay had a sensitivity of 50 IU/mL, with a dynamic range of detection between 10(3) and 10(6) IU/mL. The coefficients of variation of threshold cycle values in intra- and inter-day-runs were <1.77% and 3.40%, respectively. Measurement of HCV-RNA positive samples yielded reproducible data with 100% specificity. CONCLUSIONS The high sensitivity, simplicity, reproducibility, wide dynamic range, and low cost of this real-time HCV RNA quantification makes this method especially suitable for monitoring viral load during therapy and tailoring of treatment schedules accordingly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiana Shahzamani
- Digestive Disease Research Center, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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8
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Al-Qahtani AA, Kessie G, Cruz DD, Al-Faleh FZ, Al-Ahdal MN. Quasispecies of genotype 4 of hepatitis C virus genomes in Saudi patients managed with interferon alfa and ribavirin therapy. Ann Saudi Med 2010; 30:109-14. [PMID: 20220259 PMCID: PMC2855060 DOI: 10.4103/0256-4947.60515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Many patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection do not respond to antiviral treatment, possibly due to viral quasispecies. We aimed to investigate whether the quasispecies population could be used as a predictor of response to therapy in our patients. METHODS The quasispecies of HCV genotype 4 (HCV-4) were studied in 25 naïve Saudi patients at zero, three, and six months following interferon alfa and ribavirin combination therapy. Hypervariable region 1 within the E2/NS1 gene of the virus was analyzed by the single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) technique after amplification. RESULTS Pretreatment DNA bands by SSCP (2-7 bands) were detected in all patients. In those who achieved a complete virological response within six months (viral load P=.53). Two of the four patients with pretreatment high viral load and the same or decreased composition of quasispecies bands responded to the therapy. CONCLUSION Quasispecies in our studied patients cannot be used to predict responsiveness to treatment, but may offer an explanation for failure of most HCV-4 patients to respond to interferon alfa and ribavirin therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed A. Al-Qahtani
- From the Department of Biological and Medical Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - George Kessie
- From the Department of Biological and Medical Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Current address: SAIC-Frederick, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, P.O. Box B Frederick, Maryland, 21702 USA
| | - Damian Dela Cruz
- From the Department of Biological and Medical Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Faleh Z. Al-Faleh
- From the Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed N. Al-Ahdal
- From the Department of Biological and Medical Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- From the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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9
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Toyoda H, Kumada T, Kiriyama S, Sone Y, Tanikawa M, Hisanaga Y, Kanamori A, Atsumi H, Takagi M, Nakano S, Arakawa T, Fujimori M. Differences in viral kinetics between genotypes 1 and 2 of hepatitis C virus after single administration of standard interferon-alpha. J Med Virol 2009; 81:1354-62. [DOI: 10.1002/jmv.21533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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10
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Neuman MG, Sha K, Esguerra R, Zakhari S, Winkler RE, Hilzenrat N, Wyse J, Cooper CL, Seth D, Gorrell MD, Haber PS, McCaughan GW, Leo MA, Lieber CS, Voiculescu M, Buzatu E, Ionescu C, Dudas J, Saile B, Ramadori G. Inflammation and repair in viral hepatitis C. Dig Dis Sci 2008; 53:1468-87. [PMID: 17994278 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-007-0047-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2007] [Accepted: 09/26/2007] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis C viral infection (HCV) results in liver damage leading to inflammation and fibrosis of the liver and increasing rates of hepatic decompensation and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the host's immune response and viral determinants of liver disease progression are poorly understood. This review will address the determinants of liver injury in chronic HCV infection and the risk factors leading to rapid disease progression. We aim to better understand the factors that distinguish a relatively benign course of HCV from one with progression to cirrhosis. We will accomplish this task by discussion of three topics: (1) the role of cytokines in the adaptive immune response against the HCV infection; (2) the progression of fibrosis; and (3) the risk factors of co-morbidity with alcohol and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in HCV-infected individuals. Despite recent improvements in treating HCV infection using pegylated interferon alpha (PEGIFN-alpha) and ribavirin, about half of individuals infected with some genotypes, for example genotypes 1 and 4, will not respond to treatment or cannot be treated because of contraindications. This review will also aim to describe the importance of IFN-alpha-based therapies in HCV infection, ways of monitoring them, and associated complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela G Neuman
- In Vitro Drug Safety and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacology, Biophysics and Global Health, Institute of Drug Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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11
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Park VM, Mason BC, Krushkal J, Li R, Riely C, Fleckenstein J. Hepatitis C hypervariable region 1: association of reduced selection pressure in african americans with treatment failure. Dig Dis Sci 2007; 52:2540-9. [PMID: 17410445 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-006-9726-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2006] [Accepted: 12/03/2006] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
In a prospective therapeutic trial, features of the hepatitis C quasispecies were investigated as possible markers of therapeutic response. Individuals chronically infected with hepatitis C genotype 1 received antiviral therapy consisting of alpha-interferon plus ribavirin. The study targeted the most rapidly evolving segment of the viral genome, hypervariable region 1 within the envelope-2 gene. Among individuals failing to clear virus in response to therapy, significant differences were observed between quasispecies of African-American and Caucasian subjects. While distance measures for synonymous substitutions were similar between racial subgroups, measures of distance at the amino acid level (nonsynonymous substitutions) varied significantly. Taken together, the observed patterns of variability corresponded to reduced host selection pressure against hypervariable region 1 in African-American nonresponders. Reduced selection pressure was present at baseline and persisted through treatment and follow-up, suggesting population stratification of host factors that influence selection pressure on hepatitis C virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicki M Park
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, USA.
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12
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Kumagai N, Kaneko F, Tsunematsu S, Tsuchimoto K, Tada S, Saito H, Hibi T. Complexity of the HVR-1 quasispecies and disease activity in patients with hepatitis C. Eur J Clin Invest 2007; 37:566-72. [PMID: 17576208 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2362.2007.01825.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis C virus (HCV) easily undergoes genomic changes, especially in the hypervariable region (HVR) in the N-terminus of the E2/NS1 region. The quasispecies nature of HCV may have important biological implications in relation to viral persistence; however, the relationship between disease activity of chronic HCV infection and development of the genomic complexity have yielded conflicting results. We explored the changes in the complexity of the HVR-1 in the natural course of chronic HCV infection with and without elevation of serum alanine transaminase (ALT) levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ten patients with chronic hepatitis C proven by liver biopsy, who showed persistent elevation of the serum ALT levels, and 15 patients with chronic HCV infection and persistently normal serum ALT levels (PNAL) were enrolled in this study. The number of the HCV quasispecies was determined twice for each patient at an interval of mean 2.5 years by fluorescence single-strand conformation polymorphism and sequence analysis. RESULTS There was no significant difference in the changes in the number of quasispecies during the follow-up period between chronic hepatitis C and PNAL. There was also no significant difference in the change in the number of variable nucleotides sites between the two groups. In these patients, the number of quasispecies and the diversity of HVR-1 were correlated with platelet counts and serum hyaluronic acid levels previously shown to be associated with disease progression. CONCLUSION Our results suggested that the disease activity is not always related to the generation of the HVR-1 quasispecies complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Kumagai
- Research Center for Liver Disaeases, Kitasato Institute Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
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13
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Le Guillou-Guillemette H, Vallet S, Gaudy-Graffin C, Payan C, Pivert A, Goudeau A, Lunel-Fabiani F. Genetic diversity of the hepatitis C virus: Impact and issues in the antiviral therapy. World J Gastroenterol 2007; 13:2416-26. [PMID: 17552024 PMCID: PMC4146759 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i17.2416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis C Virus (HCV) presents a high degree of genetic variability which is explained by the combination of a lack of proof reading by the RNA dependant RNA polymerase and a high level of viral replication. The resulting genetic polymorphism defines a classification in clades, genotypes, subtypes, isolates and quasispecies. This diversity is known to reflect the range of responses to Interferon therapy. The genotype is one of the predictive parameters currently used to define the antiviral treatment strategy and the chance of therapeutic success. Studies have also reported the potential impact of the viral genetic polymorphism in the outcome of antiviral therapy in patients infected by the same HCV genotype. Both structural and non structural genomic regions of HCV have been suggested to be involved in the Interferon pathway and the resistance to antiviral therapy. In this review, we first detail the viral basis of HCV diversity. Then, the HCV genetic regions that may be implicated in resistance to therapy are described, with a focus on the structural region encoded by the E2 gene and the non-structural genes NS3, NS5A and NS5B. Both mechanisms of the Interferon resistance and of the new antiviral drugs are described in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Le Guillou-Guillemette
- Laboratory of Virology, Department of Infectious Agents, University Hospital of Angers, 4 rue Larrey, 49933 Angers Cedex 9, France
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14
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Zekri ARN, El-Din HMA, Bahnassy AA, Khaled MM, Omar A, Fouad I, El-Hefnewi M, Thakeb F, El-Awady M. Genetic distance and heterogenecity between quasispecies is a critical predictor to IFN response in Egyptian patients with HCV genotype-4. Virol J 2007; 4:16. [PMID: 17300723 PMCID: PMC1805740 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422x-4-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2006] [Accepted: 02/14/2007] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background HCV is one of the major health problems in Egypt, where it is highly prevalent. Genotype 4 is the most common genotype of HCV and its response to treatment is still a controversy. Methods HCV genotype 4 quasispecies diversity within the 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) was studied in a series of 22 native Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C virus with no previous treatment who satisfied all NIH criteria for combined treatment of pegylated IFN and ribavirine and was correlated with the outcome of treatment. The study also included 7 control patients with no antiviral treatment. HCV sequencing was done using the TRUGENE HCV 5-NC genotyping kit. Results At the 48th week of treatment, 15 patients (68%) showed virological response. Whereas HCV-RNA was still detected in 7 patients (32%) in this period; of those, 6 experienced a partial virological response followed by viral breakthrough during treatment. Only one patient did not show any virological or chemical response. The four females included in this study were all responders. There was a significant correlation between the response rate and lower fibrosis (p = 0.026) as well as the total number of mutation spots (including all the insertions, deletions, transitions and transversions) (p = 0.007, p = 0.035). Conclusion Patients who responded to interferon treatment had statistically significant less number in both transitions (p = 0.007) and the genetic distances between the quasispecies (p = 0.035). So, viral genetic complexity and variability may play a role in the response to IFN treatment. The consensus alignment of all three groups revealed no characteristic pattern among the three groups. However, the G to A transitions at 160 was observed among non responders who need further study to confirm this observation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdel Rahman N Zekri
- Virology and Immunology Unit, Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University.1Kasr El-Aini st, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hanaa M Alam El-Din
- Virology and Immunology Unit, Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University.1Kasr El-Aini st, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Abeer A Bahnassy
- Pathology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University 1Kasr El-Aini st., Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mohsen M Khaled
- National Diabetes Institute, Ministry of Health, Egypt, Kasr El-Aini st., Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ashraf Omar
- Kasr El-Aini School of Medicine, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini st., Cairo, Egypt
| | - Inas Fouad
- Kasr El-Aini School of Medicine, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini st., Cairo, Egypt
| | | | - Fouad Thakeb
- Kasr El-Aini School of Medicine, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini st., Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mostafa El-Awady
- National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt, Tahrir St., Cairo, Egypt
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15
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Salmerón J, De Rueda PM, Ruiz-Extremera A, Casado J, Huertas C, Bernal MDC, Rodríguez L, Palacios A. Quasispecies as predictive response factors for antiviral treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Dig Dis Sci 2006; 51:960-7. [PMID: 16758308 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-006-9347-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The object of this study was to evaluate the viral factor, especially the quasispecies, as predictive of sustained virologic response. We studied the quasispecies, genotype, viral load, and hepatitis C (HCV) cAg in 41 patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon and in 84 with interferon and ribavirin. In the interferon group, responders presented a lower viral load. From logistic regression analysis of patients treated with interferon plus ribavirin, independent predictors for sustained virologic response were genotype 3a, a low baseline viral load and <or=3 bands quasispecies. Genotype and viral load presented higher specificity and positive predictive value than did quasispecies. In patients with genotype 1, viral load <or=5 x 10(5) IU/mL and <or=3 quasispecies were predictive for sustained virologic response. In conclusion, the predictive factors of virologic response are genotype, viral load, and quasispecies. Quasispecies did not improve on the genotype or the viral load as predictors of virologic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Salmerón
- Gastroenterology Unit, Hospital Universitario "San Cecilio,", Granada, Spain.
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16
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Chambers TJ, Fan X, Droll DA, Hembrador E, Slater T, Nickells MW, Dustin LB, Dibisceglie AM. Quasispecies heterogeneity within the E1/E2 region as a pretreatment variable during pegylated interferon therapy of chronic hepatitis C virus infection. J Virol 2005; 79:3071-83. [PMID: 15709027 PMCID: PMC548442 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.79.5.3071-3083.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2004] [Accepted: 10/18/2004] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A series of 29 patients undergoing treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infection with pegylated alpha-2a interferon plus ribavirin were studied for patterns of response to antiviral therapy and viral quasispecies evolution. All patients were treatment naive and had chronic inflammation and fibrosis on biopsy. As part of an analysis of pretreatment variables that might affect the outcome of treatment, genetic heterogeneity within the viral E1-E2 glycoprotein region (nucleotides 851 to 2280) was assessed by sequencing 10 to 15 quasispecies clones per patient from serum-derived PCR products. Genetic parameters were examined with respect to response to therapy based on serum viral RNA loads at 12 weeks (early viral response) and at 24 weeks posttreatment (sustained viral response). Nucleotide and amino acid quasispecies complexities of the hypervariable region 1 (HVR-1) were less in the responder group in comparison to the nonresponder group at 12 weeks, and genetic diversity was also less both within and outside of the HVR-1, with the difference being most pronounced for the non-HVR-1 region of E2. However, these genetic parameters did not distinguish responders from nonresponders for sustained viral responses. Follow-up studies of genetic heterogeneity based on the HVR-1 in selected responders and nonresponders while on therapy revealed greater evolutionary drift in the responder subgroup. The pretreatment population sequences for the NS5A interferon sensitivity determinant region were also analyzed for all patients, but no correlations were found between treatment response and any distinct genetic markers. These findings support previous studies indicating a high level of genetic heterogeneity among chronically infected HCV patients. One interpretation of these data is that early viral responses are governed to some extent by viral factors, whereas sustained responses may be more influenced by host factors, in addition to effects of viral complexity and diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Chambers
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis University Health Sciences Center, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
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17
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Qin H, Shire NJ, Keenan ED, Rouster SD, Eyster ME, Goedert JJ, Koziel MJ, Sherman KE. HCV quasispecies evolution: association with progression to end-stage liver disease in hemophiliacs infected with HCV or HCV/HIV. Blood 2005; 105:533-41. [PMID: 15374882 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2004-04-1452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractPatients with inherited bleeding disorders who received clotting factor concentrates before 1987 have high rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) or HCV/HIV infection. We evaluated HCV quasispecies evolution in longitudinally collected specimens comparing those from patients with progression to end-stage liver disease (ESLD; cases) to those with compensated chronic hepatitis (controls). Plasma samples were obtained from the National Cancer Institute Multicenter Hemophilia Cohort Study. Controls were matched for age, sex, infection duration, and presence/absence of HIV. Samples from early infection were compared to those obtained after onset of ESLD in the cases. The first hypervariable (HVR1) and core proteincoding regions were amplified, subcloned, and sequenced. Complexity and diversity were determined. More than 700 sub-clones from 10 pairs of patients (8 with HIV) followed over approximately 9.3 years were evaluated. HVR1 complexity narrowed over time in the cases, whereas it increased in controls (P = .01). Similar trends were observed for diversity within HVR1 and the core region (P = .04). HCV-infected patients with inherited bleeding disorders undergo quasispecies evolution over time. Evolution patterns differ for progressors and nonprogressors. Further understanding of these mechanisms may help identify factors related to progression rate and treatment response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxing Qin
- Division of Digestive Diseases, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
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18
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Abstract
Failure of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a challenging obstacle for clinical and experimental hepatology. Both viral and host factors have been implicated in reducing responsiveness to IFN-alpha therapy. The role of viral factors has been studied extensively and has been summarized in several review articles; however, much less attention has been paid to host factors. In this paper, we review evidence of host factor involvement in IFN-alpha treatment failure. We discuss possible underlying mechanisms responsible for these effects. Potential therapeutic strategies to enhance the effectiveness of IFN-alpha therapy for HCV are also proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Gao
- Section on Liver Biology, Laboratory of Physiologic Studies, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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19
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Takeda T, Tatsumi N, Nakayama Y, Yasuda T, Nishiguchi S, Seki S. Mode of HCV infection examined by polymorphism of hypervariable region-1 in cases of acute hepatitis C after accidental exposure to blood-borne pathogens. J Med Virol 2004; 75:35-41. [PMID: 15543585 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.20233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Acute hepatitis C is known to respond better to interferon therapy than chronic hepatitis C. The reason for this difference remains unclear. The present study was undertaken to examine HCV quasispecies in blood from patients with acute hepatitis C caused by accidental exposure to blood-borne pathogens and in blood from the source patients. Three patients who developed hepatitis C (recipient patients; R-Pt.) and two patients who served as a source of HCV infection (source patients; S-Pt.) were the subjects of this study. The number of quasispecies and the genetic diversity in hypervariable region-1 (HVR-1) were examined on the basis of fluorescence single-strand conformation polymorphism and sequence analysis (FSSA). On the day of the accident, the number of quasispecies and genetic diversity were 13 and 36 in S-Pt.1 and 6 and 20 in S-Pt.3, respectively. At the time of diagnosis of acute hepatitis, the number of quasispecies and nucleotide diversity were 2 and 2 in R-Pt.1, 2 and 0 in R-Pt.2, and 4 and 0 in R-Pt.3, respectively. Immediately before the start of treatment, the number of quasispecies and genetic diversity were 4 and 4 in R-Pt.1, 2 and 0 in R-Pt.2, and 3 and 0 in R-Pt.3., respectively. In three R-Pts, interferon therapy resulted in eradication of HCV. These findings indicate that in the early stage of HCV infection, only a portion of HCV transmitted from S-Pts to R-Pts can proliferate. The low number of quasispecies of HCV appears to be one of the reasons why acute hepatitis responds well to interferon therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadashi Takeda
- Department of Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, 1-4-3 Asahimachi Abeno-ku, Osaka 545-8585, Japan.
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20
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Gaudy C, Moreau A, Veillon P, Temoin S, Lunel F, Goudeau A. Significance of pretreatment analysis of hepatitis C virus genotype 1b hypervariable region 1 sequences to predict antiviral outcome. J Clin Microbiol 2003; 41:3615-22. [PMID: 12904364 PMCID: PMC179854 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.41.8.3615-3622.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The heterogeneity of hypervariable region 1 (HVR1), located at the amino terminus of the E2 envelope, may be involved in resistance to alpha interferon (IFN-alpha) treatment. We investigated whether peculiar HVR1 domain profiles before treatment were associated with the maintenance of sensitivity or the appearance of resistance to treatment. Fifteen patients infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 1b and treated with IFN with or without ribavirin were selected. Ten responded to treatment (groups R1 and R2) and five did not (group NR). The amino acid sequences of 150 naturally occurring HVR1 variants present in the serum before therapy were compared in relation to treatment outcome. HVR1 variants from the NR group contained a constant nonantigenic amino acid segment that was not found in HVR1 variants from the R groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Gaudy
- Département de Microbiologie Médicale et Moléculaire EA 3250, Université François Rabelais, F37044 Tours Cedex, France
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21
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Zhang L, Zhao GZ, Li Y, Shi LL. Dynamic changes of HVR1 quasispecies in chronic hepatitis C after IFN therapy. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2003; 11:182-184. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v11.i2.182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To evaluate the correlation between the complexity of HCV HVR1 quasi-species and their response to IFN therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
METHODS: Twenty patients with chronic hepatitis C received IFN therapy (3 mu/d, three times/week for 24 wk). Serum quasispecies complexity of HVR1 was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction mediated singl-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) before and 3 mo, 6 mo post-therapy, respectively.
RESULTS: Of 20 patients, 7 had low level of complexity (SSCP bands ≤ 3), 13 had high level of complexity (SSCP bands > 3). The rate of HCV RNA negative in low level complexity group was higher than that in high level complexity group. Patients with low level of complexity prior to therapy had good responsive to IFN; Serum HCV RNA in some patients did not convert to negative after IFN therapy, however, the number of SSCP bands decreased gradually.
CONCLUSION: HCV HVR1 quasi-species complexity is a predictive factor in response to IFN therapy, a statistically significant correlation between high level of complexity of HCV HVR1 quasi-species and lacking of response to IFN therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C was found.
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22
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Takane H, Ohdo S, Baba R, Koyanagi S, Yukawa E, Higuchi S. Relationship between 24-hour rhythm in antiviral effect of interferon-beta and interferon-alpha/beta receptor expression in mice. JAPANESE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY 2002; 90:304-12. [PMID: 12501006 DOI: 10.1254/jjp.90.304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The influence of interferon-beta (IFN-beta) dosing time on antiviral activity was investigated in ICR male mice under light-dark cycle conditions (lights on at 07:00, off at 19:00) with food and water available ad libitum. There was a significant dosing time-dependent change in 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (2',5'-OAS) activities, as an index of antiviral activity, in liver at 12 h after IFN-beta (15 MIU/kg, i.v.) injection. IFN-beta-induced 2',5'-OAS activity was more potent after the drug injection during the late dark phase. The higher antiviral effect of IFN-beta was observed when the interferon-alpha/beta receptor (IFNAR) expression in the liver increased, and the lower effect was observed when its expression decreased. IFN-beta-induced fever was more serious after IFN-beta injection from the late dark phase to the early light phase. A significant dosing time-dependent change was demonstrated for plasma IFN-beta concentrations, which showed a higher level during the light phase and a lower level during the dark phase. The dosing time-dependent change of plasma IFN-beta concentrations was not associated with that of the antiviral effect or fever induced by IFN-beta. These results suggest that selecting the most suitable dosing time of IFN-beta, associated with the 24-h rhythm of IFNAR expression in the liver, may be important to increase effectively the antiviral activity of the drug in experimental and clinical situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Takane
- Clinical Pharmacokinetics, Division of Clinical Pharmacy, Department of Medico-Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
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23
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Fabrizi F, Lunghi G, Poordad FF, Martin P. Genetic variability of hepatitis C virus in dialysis: the implications. Int J Artif Organs 2002; 25:1034-48. [PMID: 12487391 DOI: 10.1177/039139880202501102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- F Fabrizi
- Division of Nephrology, Dialysis and Renal Transplantation, Maggiore Hospital, Policlinico IRCCS, Milano, Italy.
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24
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Soler M, Pellerin M, Malnou CE, Dhumeaux D, Kean KM, Pawlotsky JM. Quasispecies heterogeneity and constraints on the evolution of the 5' noncoding region of hepatitis C virus (HCV): relationship with HCV resistance to interferon-alpha therapy. Virology 2002; 298:160-73. [PMID: 12093183 DOI: 10.1006/viro.2002.1494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) polyprotein translation depends on direct internal entry of the 40S ribosomal subunit mediated by an internal ribosome entry segment (IRES) located in the 5' noncoding (5'NC) region of the viral genome. HCV is genetically heterogeneous and is characterized by the existence of a quasispecies distribution of the virus population within a single infected individual. Cloning and sequencing strategies were used to characterize 5'NC quasispecies genetically. Similar to coding regions, the HCV 5'NC region was distributed as a quasispecies, but it appeared to be subjected to stronger conservatory constraints than other regions of the HCV genome, probably due to the need for structural (and functional) conservation of the IRES. Indeed, most of the quasispecies substitutions were in unpaired regions of the IRES or clustered such that base-pairing was maintained, whereas only 21% were expected to result in a loss of base-pairing. Quasispecies-related structural changes could be predicted in the core cruciform of IRES domain III composed of the RNA helices which extend from the four-way junction JIIIabc, mostly in minor variants, but sometimes in major ones. The results presented here suggest the simultaneous presence in infected patients of a mixture of genetically distinct but closely related IRES sequences that may have different structures. No significant genetic changes of 5'NC quasispecies were observed after interferon-alpha treatment, except in patients with mixed genotype infection who cleared one of the infecting strains during therapy, suggesting that the quasispecies distribution of IRES sequences does not play a role in HCV resistance to interferon-alpha therapy. In contrast, the overall quasispecies distribution of HCV genomes (including IRES sequences) might participate in regulation of hepatic and extrahepatic HCV replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muriel Soler
- Department of Virology (EA 3489), Université Paris XII, Créteil, France
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25
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Fabrizi F, Lunghi G, Martin P. Recent advances in the management of hepatitis C in the dialysis population. Int J Artif Organs 2002; 25:503-11. [PMID: 12117289 DOI: 10.1177/039139880202500604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- F Fabrizi
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Maggiore Hospital, IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
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26
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Pingel S, Weyer S, Galle PR, Löhr HF. Evolution of viral quasispecies in four dominant HlA-A2 restricted T cell epitopes is not a major reason for viral persistence in interferon-treated patients with chronic hepatitis C. J Med Virol 2002; 66:472-80. [PMID: 11857524 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.2168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In most patients, chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection persists despite antiviral treatment with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) and ribavirin. The aim of the study was to determine whether HCV could evade cellular immune responses through mutations within T cell epitopes. Viral sequences flanking four major CTL epitopes within the HCV core and envelope regions were analyzed by PCR amplification, cloning and sequencing in seven HLA-A2 positive HCV patients before, during and after antiviral therapy. In addition, cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursor (CTLp) frequencies specific to these epitopes were quantitated by ELISPOT. A total of 13 coding mutations were observed among 650 cloned and sequenced PCR products under or post IFN treatment but no clear selection of viral variants. In detail, the diversity of quasispecies in the two core epitopes remained fairly stable over time despite variable CTLp induction in some individuals. The overall mutation rate in the two envelope epitopes was higher but there was no correlation with specific CTLp frequencies. In conclusion, although evolution of the viral quasispecies during and after antiviral therapy was demonstrated, immune evasion by epitope specific mutations seemed to be not common in interferon nonresponders because the viral complexity did not increase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Pingel
- I. Department of Internal Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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27
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Farci P, Strazzera R, Alter HJ, Farci S, Degioannis D, Coiana A, Peddis G, Usai F, Serra G, Chessa L, Diaz G, Balestrieri A, Purcell RH. Early changes in hepatitis C viral quasispecies during interferon therapy predict the therapeutic outcome. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2002; 99:3081-6. [PMID: 11880647 PMCID: PMC122476 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.052712599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite recent treatment advances, the majority of patients with chronic hepatitis C fail to respond to antiviral therapy. Although the genetic basis for this resistance is unknown, accumulated evidence suggests that changes in the heterogeneous viral population (quasispecies) may be an important determinant of viral persistence and response to therapy. Sequences within hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope 1 and envelope 2 genes, inclusive of the hypervariable region 1, were analyzed in parallel with the level of viral replication in serial serum samples obtained from 23 patients who exhibited different patterns of response to therapy and from untreated controls. Our study provides evidence that although the viral diversity before treatment does not predict the response to treatment, the early emergence and dominance of a single viral variant distinguishes patients who will have a sustained therapeutic response from those who subsequently will experience a breakthrough or relapse. A dramatic reduction in genetic diversity leading to an increasingly homogeneous viral population was a consistent feature associated with viral clearance in sustained responders and was independent of HCV genotype. The persistence of variants present before treatment in patients who fail to respond or who experience a breakthrough during therapy strongly suggests the preexistence of viral strains with inherent resistance to IFN. Thus, the study of the evolution of the HCV quasispecies provides prognostic information as early as the first 2 weeks after starting therapy and opens perspectives for elucidating the mechanisms of treatment failure in chronic hepatitis C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Farci
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.
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28
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Abstract
Although recent evidence indicates that the quasispecies nature of HCV constitutes a critical strategy for the virus to survive in the host, the mechanisms of viral persistence remain unknown. Similarly, the correlates of immune protection in a limited proportion of individuals who succeed in clearing HCV are still largely undefined. Understanding the mechanisms of sterilizing immunity is essential for devising preventive measures against HCV and unraveling how the virus eludes such immunity. As in other viral infections, the complex interactions between the virus and the host early in the course of HCV infection probably determine the outcome of the disease (i.e., resolution or persistence). The evidence now accumulated on HCV and other models of viral infection is compatible with the hypothesis that both cellular and humoral components are needed for definitive viral clearance. Nevertheless, detailed studies of the specific cellular and humoral immune responses during the incubation period and the acute phase of hepatitis C, in relation to the viral quasispecies evolution and the clinical outcome, are still lacking both in humans and in the chimpanzee model. Until such studies are performed, most ideas of viral clearance mechanisms remain hypothetical, and the immunologic basis of HCV clearance will continue to be inferred from associations rather than from causal relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Farci
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
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29
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Abstract
To determine whether the hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 PePHD sequence (aa 659-670; PKR-eIF2alpha phosphorylation homology domain) is the determinant for the response of interferon treatment, we have analyzed PePHD sequences in HCV-infected patients who had received interferon-alfa treatment. The PePHD sequence from all (6/6) of the patients, who are non- or partial responders to the interferon treatment, is the wild-type sequence (RSELSPLLL-TT, consensus sequence of HCV-1a and HCV-1b). However, there are sequence variations from more than half (5/9) of the patients, who are complete responders to the treatment. We have also analyzed the NS5A ISDR sequence (aa 2209-2248, interferon sensitivity-determining region) variation in HCV-1b-infected patients. No such correlation has been observed. Thus, our data suggest that HCV E2 should play a more important role than NS5A in determining the interferon responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Lo
- Department of Medical Technology, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
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30
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McKechnie VM, McCruden EA. Optimisation and sensitivity of single-stranded conformation polymorphism for the detection of hepatitis C virus quasi-species. J Virol Methods 2001; 92:131-9. [PMID: 11226560 DOI: 10.1016/s0166-0934(00)00279-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Single-stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) is a technique used widely for the detection of differences in DNA sequence based on PCR technology. Developed by geneticists for the detection of mutations causing disease, it has been adopted more recently for the analysis of the quasi-species of viral genomes, such as hepatitis C virus (HCV). The rigorous standardisation and determination of the limit of detection of the technique has rarely been shown. Variants within the quasi-species of the hypervariable region of HCV were cloned into pUC119 and the resulting plasmids quantitated and used as templates to optimise SSCP. Variables studied included the number of variants detected, the sensitivity of detection of variants in the minority, the electrophoresis temperature, methods of generation of single-stranded DNA, effect of numbers of cycles of PCR and use of DNA polymerase with proof-reading ability. It was demonstrated that the optimised method could detect at least five variants within a quasi-species and that variants could be detected down to a level of 2% of the quasi-species. Electrophoresis at room temperature for 18 h was highly reproducible. Generation of single-stranded DNA using a single primer with Taq polymerase for 20 cycles gave an accurate reflection of the quasi-species make-up and use of Pfu polymerase reduced sensitivity of detection of minor bands. This SSCP method provides an accurate tool to evaluate HCV quasi-species.
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Affiliation(s)
- V M McKechnie
- Division of Virology, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, G11 5JR, Glasgow, UK
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31
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Fukutomi T, Nakamuta M, Fukutomi M, Iwao M, Watanabe H, Hiroshige K, Tanabe Y, Nawata H. Decline of hepatitis C virus load in serum during the first 24 h after administration of interferon-beta as a predictor of the efficacy of therapy. J Hepatol 2001; 34:100-7. [PMID: 11211884 DOI: 10.1016/s0168-8278(00)00044-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Hepatitis C virus (HCV) kinetics during interferon (IFN)-alpha treatment have been evaluated recently, however, little is known about the resultant viral kinetics in IFN-beta treatment. In this study, we evaluated HCV kinetics during the first 24 h of IFN-beta treatment, and also assessed their relationship to therapeutic outcomes. METHODS We measured HCV RNA levels at 0 and 24 h after the initiation of IFN-beta treatment, and we calculated the decay slope, viral half-life, and viral production and clearance. Then we analyzed these factors as they related to therapeutic responses with IFN-beta as well as to clinical variables, i.e. genotype, diversity of hyper variable region, and histological findings. RESULTS Patients with sustained responses (SR) displayed steeper decay slopes of the viral load than those without SR (2.87 +/- 1.41 vs. 1.82 +/- 1.66, P = 0.031). On the other hand, the decay slope was not affected by the clinical variables. The values of viral half-life and viral production and clearance showed no significant correlation to the response and the clinical variables. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that the decay slope of the viral load during the first 24 h is related to the virological response to IFN-beta treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Fukutomi
- Department of Medicine, Fukuoka City Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
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Gürsoy M, Gür G, Arslan H, Ozdemir N, Boyacioglu S. Interferon therapy in haemodialysis patients with acute hepatitis C virus infection and factors that predict response to treatment. J Viral Hepat 2001; 8:70-7. [PMID: 11155154 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2893.2001.00268.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
In view of the high rate of chronicity of acute hepatitis C and the low efficacy of interferon (IFN) treatment in advanced liver disease, it may be beneficial to treat patients during the acute phase of the infection. Here we assessed the effects of variable-dose IFNalpha-2b treatment in haemodialysis patients with acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and identified factors that may predict response to this therapy. The study population included 67 patients, but 14 were excluded due to side-effects or because they were lost to follow-up. Seventeen patients who received no specific treatment were used as controls (Group 1). Sixteen and 20 patients received low-(3 MU) and high-dose (6-10 MU) IFNalpha-2b three times weekly for 3 months (Groups 2 and 3, respectively). Virological end-of-treatment response (ETR) was observed in 1 (5.6%), 13 (56.5%), and 17 (65.4%) patients in Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively, and virological sustained response (SR) was observed in 1 (5.6%), 6 (26.1%), and 13 (50%) patients in the three groups. The rates of virological ETR and SR in the treated groups were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.01 for all comparisons). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, single stranded confirmational polymorphysm (SSCP) band number (P=0.02) was the only factor that was significantly associated with virological SR. In conclusion, IFN-alpha treatment initiated during the acute phase of HCV infection is associated with a higher rate of virological ETR and SR. This study suggested that quasispecies heterogeneity has predictive value with regard to virological SR.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Gürsoy
- Department of Gastroenterology, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Consensus interferon (CIFN) is a newly developed type I interferon. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of CIFN in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C and to determine the predictors for sustained response. METHODS Patients were randomized to receive 3 micrograms or 9 micrograms CIFN three times a week for 24 weeks, followed by 24 weeks of observation. Efficacy was assessed by normalization of serum transaminase levels and disappearance of serum hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA at the end of treatment and at 24 weeks after stopping treatment. Histologic response was defined as a decrease of at least two points in the Knodell necroinflammatory score at week 48 and was compared with baseline. RESULTS There were no serious adverse effects related to CIFN therapy. Overall, 44% of patients receiving 3 micrograms and 48% of patients receiving 9 micrograms had normalization of serum transaminase levels and disappearance of HCV viremia at the end of treatment. At 24 weeks after stopping treatment, 16% of patients in receiving 9 micrograms and 12% of patients receiving 3 micrograms had sustained responses. The histologic responses in patients receiving 9 micrograms and those receiving 3 micrograms were 60% and 36%, respectively. The necroinflammatory score was significantly reduced from baseline to week 48 in both groups. In addition, bodyweight < 60 kg and pretreatment serum HCV-RNA level < 0.5 MEq/mL can serve as predictors for sustained response to CIFN treatment. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that 9 micrograms CIFN is safe and effective in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C.
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Affiliation(s)
- J H Kao
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Pawlotsky
- Department of Bacteriology and Virology and INSERM U99, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Université Paris XII, Créteil, France.
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Kondili LA, Taliani G, Tosti ME, De Bac C, Pasquazzi C, Mele A. Methodological issues in papers on IFN therapy: time for reappraisal. J Viral Hepat 2000; 7:184-95. [PMID: 10849260 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2893.2000.00214.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
We conducted an analytical review of 194 full papers on interferon (IFN) therapy for chronic hepatitis C to evaluate current methodology (i.e. study design, criteria for evaluating the efficacy of therapy and predictors of response). Of the papers evaluated, 64 were randomized controlled trials (RCT), 40 were non-randomized controlled trials (NRCT) and 90 were observational studies (OS). The methodological analysis was focused mainly on clinical trials. The number of patients enrolled in RCT was higher compared with the number enrolled in NRCT. Uniform enrolment criteria were used in less than 50% of the trials. Only 20% of RCT and 2.5% of NRCT used criteria for defining sample size. The response rate was calculated on an intention-to-treat basis in 36 of the RCT and in 14 of the NRCT. The outcome of treatment and the criteria employed to define the response to treatment were found to be far from standardized. In 51.5% of the RCT and 42.5% of the NRCT, normalization of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level at the end of follow-up was the only marker of response studied. Only 57.6% of the trials considered histological evidence as an important outcome. Among the clinical trials, 71.1% evaluated predictors of good response to IFN therapy. In 51% of the OS, ALT normalization by the end of follow-up was the only criterion for defining response. In conclusion, to ensure a high level of reliability in comparing or combining the results of different studies, some basic general requirements must be followed when planning trials on antiviral therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- L A Kondili
- Laboratorio di Epidemiologia e Biostatistica, Istituto Superiore di Sanit¿a, Roma, Italy
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36
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Hino K, Yamaguchi Y, Fujiwara D, Katoh Y, Korenaga M, Okazaki M, Okuda M, Okita K. Hepatitis C virus quasispecies and response to interferon therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C: a prospective study. J Viral Hepat 2000; 7:36-42. [PMID: 10718941 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2893.2000.00196.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
We prospectively examined whether the complexity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) quasispecies is related to the response to interferon (IFN) therapy. Among 64 patients who had histologically proven chronic hepatitis and were treated with natural IFN-alpha, 53 patients were analysed. The other 11 patients discontinued therapy because of adverse effects of IFN. The complexity of the hypervariable region 1 (HVR 1) in quasispecies was determined using both clone number determined by fluorescence single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and nucleotide diversity determined by direct sequencing. These parameters were measured not only before treatment but also at completion and 6 months after therapy, if serum HCV RNA was detectable. This population of patients was different from the general Japanese population with regard to the high prevalence of patients infected with genotype 2a or 2b (49%), who had a higher viral load than those with genotype 1b (P = 0.021). Twenty-two patients (41.5%) were sustained responders. Genotype non-1b (P = 0.0009) and a smaller clone number (P = 0.008) were significantly associated with a sustained response. In multivariate analysis, these variables were independently associated with a sustained response (i.e. genotype: odds ratio 6.84, 95% CI 1.84-30. 12; and clone number: odds ratio 1.26, 95% CI 0.99-1.68). The clone number and nucleotide diversity did not change significantly between pretreatment and at completion or 6 months after therapy. These results suggest that lower complexity of HVR 1 quasispecies predicts a preferable response to IFN therapy that is independent of viral load, especially in the population of the relatively high prevalence of patients infected with genotype 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Hino
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Yamaguchi University, School of Medicine, Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan
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Abstract
Genetic heterogeneity is a hallmark of the hepatitis C virus, as a result largely of the infidelity of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Random nucleotide substitutions are introduced at a very high rate. The existence of genotypes was confirmed by statistical and mathematical techniques, and the relation of the genotypes to each other has been determined. There are six major genotypes, each with multiple subtypes. Isolates of the same genotype have an average sequence homology of 95%, but different genotypes have sequence similarity of approximately 65% on average. The nucleotide sequence in portions of the hepatitis C viral genome, including the 5' noncoding region, part of the core gene, and other nonstructural proteins, is highly conserved. Genotype analysis typically utilizes these highly conserved regions. There are many techniques for determining viral genotype, and in general, concordance between techniques is good. Methods most commonly used for assigning hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in clinical practice include restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and the reverse hybridization line probe assay (LiPA; Innogenetics, Ghent, Belgium). The worldwide distribution of HCV genotypes has been determined; some genotypes are highly characteristic of certain areas. The most common subtypes, 1 and 2, are less genetically diverse than the others and are more widely distributed. The impact of genotype on disease course is controversial, but recent data suggest that there is a genotype-dependent differential response to therapy. Quasispecies refers to evolution of a highly related but genetically heterogeneous population of HCV isolates. The pathobiological and clinical implications of HCV quasispecies are poorly understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- G L Davis
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610-0214, USA
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Barnes E, Webster G, Whalley S, Dusheiko G. Predictors of a favorable response to alpha interferon therapy for hepatitis C. Clin Liver Dis 1999; 3:775-91. [PMID: 11291250 DOI: 10.1016/s1089-3261(05)70238-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The most consistently identified predictive factors for a response to both IFN-alpha monotherapy and IFN-alpha in combination with ribavirin are a low HCV RNA level, the absence of fibrosis, infection with HCV genotype 2 and 3, and a prolonged duration of treatment. In addition, an early response to IFN-alpha predicts response to IFN-alpha monotherapy but not necessarily to combination therapy. There does not appear to be any major gain in treating IFN-naive patients with HCV genotype 2 or 3 infection with a combination of IFN-alpha and ribavirin for longer than 6 months. The identification of these predictive factors has allowed improvement in study design and assessment and may provide a patient with an idea of the likelihood of response, making possible a more informed decision regarding treatment. At present, none of these factors, either alone or in combination, completely predicts response to IFN-alpha. Thus, individual patients should not be denied treatment on the basis of these factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Barnes
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hepatology, Royal Free and University College School of Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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Hassoba HM, Bzowej N, Berenguer M, Kim M, Zhou S, Phung Y, Grant R, Pessoa MG, Wright TL. Evolution of viral quasispecies in interferon-treated patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. J Hepatol 1999; 31:618-27. [PMID: 10551384 DOI: 10.1016/s0168-8278(99)80340-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS To evaluate whether interferon treatment failure/relapse is related to changes in hepatitis C virus quasispecies complexity (number of variants) or diversity (genetic relatedness of variants). METHODS We analyzed hypervariable region heterogeneity in hepatitis C virus-infected patients by heteroduplex mobility assay and by phylogenetic analysis of sequenced clones. Sera from 11 patients were tested. Response was defined biochemically and virologically. Patients were treated with 3 or 6 MIU interferon for 6 months and followed up for 6 months. Four patients were non-responders, four were transient responders and three untreated patients served as controls. Three time points were studied for the non-responders (pre-interferon, end of interferon, end of 6 months of follow-up), two for the transient responders (pre-interferon and post follow-up) and two for the controls (1 year apart). A total of 260 clones were examined by heteroduplex mobility assay and 144 clones were sequenced. RESULTS A linear correlation between heteroduplex mobility and nucleotide substitutions was observed, validating this method for assessment of quasispecies diversity. Although complexity at each time point was similar in all groups, diversity increased significantly with interferon treatment. The percentage of new variants in follow up was significantly higher in non-responders than in controls. These new variants exhibited a greater change in heteroduplex mobility, a higher percentage of changes in amino acids in non-responders compared to controls and were found to cluster separately from pretreatment variants when analyzed phylogenetically. These changes were less marked in transient responders. CONCLUSIONS These mutations may allow hepatitis C virus to escape antiviral effects of interferon therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- H M Hassoba
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of California, San Francisco 94121, USA
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40
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Pawlotsky JM, Germanidis G, Frainais PO, Bouvier M, Soulier A, Pellerin M, Dhumeaux D. Evolution of the hepatitis C virus second envelope protein hypervariable region in chronically infected patients receiving alpha interferon therapy. J Virol 1999; 73:6490-9. [PMID: 10400744 PMCID: PMC112731 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.73.8.6490-6499.1999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Sustained hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA clearance is achieved in 8 to 12% of patients with chronic HCV infection treated with alpha interferon (IFN-alpha) at the approved dose of 3 MU three times a week for 6 months and in about 25% of those receiving this treatment for 12 months. We used single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis combined with cloning and sequencing strategies to characterize the genetic evolution of HCV second envelope gene hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) quasispecies during and after IFN therapy in patients who failed to clear HCV RNA. Sustained HCV RNA clearance was achieved in 6% of patients. Profound changes in HVR1 quasispecies major variants were estimated to occur in 70% of the patients during and after therapy. These changes were evolutionary and were characterized by shifts in the virus population, related to selection and subsequent diversification of minor pretreatment variants. The quasispecies changes appeared to be induced by changes in the host environment likely resulting from the IFN-induced enhancement and post-IFN attenuation of neutralizing and possibly cytotoxic responses against HVR1. The remaining patients had no apparent changes in HVR1 quasispecies major variants, suggesting selection of major pretreatment variants, but some changes were observed in other genomic regions. We conclude that IFN-alpha administration and withdrawal profoundly alters the nature of circulating HCV quasispecies, owing to profound changes in virus-host interactions, in patients in whom sustained HCV RNA clearance fails to occur. These changes are associated with profound alterations of the natural outcome of HCV-related liver disease, raising the hypothesis of a causal relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Pawlotsky
- Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Université Paris XII, 94010 Créteil, France.
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López-Labrador FX, Ampurdanès S, Giménez-Barcons M, Guilera M, Costa J, Jiménez de Anta MT, Sánchez-Tapias JM, Rodés J, Sáiz JC. Relationship of the genomic complexity of hepatitis C virus with liver disease severity and response to interferon in patients with chronic HCV genotype 1b infection [correction of interferon]. Hepatology 1999; 29:897-903. [PMID: 10051495 DOI: 10.1002/hep.510290306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
In patients with chronic hepatitis C, the influence of the genetic heterogeneity of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) on the progression of liver disease and on the responsiveness to interferon therapy is a matter of controversy. In this study we evaluated the genetic complexity of HCV by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of amplicons from the hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) in 168 patients with chronic genotype 1b HCV infection, of whom 122 received a single course of interferon therapy (3 MU, three times weekly for 6 months). No correlation was observed between the degree of genetic complexity of HCV (indicated by the number of bands in the SSCP assay) and patient age, serum alanine aminotransferase activity, or serum HCV-RNA concentration, measured by competitive polymerase chain reaction. HCV genomic complexity was not related to gender nor to the presumed source of infection. The number of SSCP bands detected in serum samples from patients with chronic hepatitis, either mild (8.1 +/- 3.9), moderate (8.0 +/- 3.3), or severe (9.2 +/- 3.3), and in patients with liver cirrhosis, either compensated (8.0 +/- 2.9), decompensated (6.3 +/- 2.9), or with superimposed hepatocellular carcinoma (9.5 +/- 2.9), was similar. The number of SSCP bands detected in patients with sustained response (7.5 +/- 3. 9), transient response (8.3 +/- 2.9), or no response (8.2 +/- 3.6) to interferon administration was similar as well. These observations suggest that the genetic complexity of hypervariable region (HVR1) of HCV, as estimated by SSCP analysis, is not related to the severity of liver injury nor to the type of response to interferon therapy. Thus, information offered by SSCP analysis of HVR1 of HCV in chronic HCV genotype 1b infection does not appear to be useful in the clinical management of these patients. (HEPATOLOGY 1999;29:897-903.)
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Affiliation(s)
- F X López-Labrador
- Liver Unit, Department of Medecine, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pí i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
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Leone F, Zylberberg H, Squadrito G, Le Guen B, Berthelot P, Pol S, Brechot C. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) hypervariable region 1 complexity does not correlate with severity of liver disease, HCV type, viral load or duration of infection. J Hepatol 1998; 29:689-94. [PMID: 9833904 DOI: 10.1016/s0168-8278(98)80247-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Several studies have suggested that infection with a highly heterogeneous population of hepatitis C virus correlates with a low response rate to interferon. It is still debated, however, whether or not this heterogeneity might be associated with liver disease severity. The aim of this study was to analyse hepatitis C virus genome complexity in patients with various stages of liver disease. METHODS We used polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis to estimate the degree of complexity of the hypervariable region (HVR1) in 95 anti-HCV and serum HCV-RNA positive patients. They were divided into two groups according to Knodell's histological activity index (HAI) grading: 22 with HAI <4 and 73 with HAI> or =4, including 19 with cirrhosis. RESULTS The number of visible SSCP bands ranged from 1 to 7. There was no significant difference in the number of SSCP bands between patients with HAI <4 and patients with HAI> or =4 (median number of bands was 4 in both groups). The number of SSCP bands was not correlated to the biochemical activity, the genotype, the HCV-RNA titre or the duration of hepatitis C virus infection. CONCLUSIONS The HCV-HVR1 complexity profile alone does not correlate with the severity of liver disease, whatever the biological and virological profile of the viral infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Leone
- INSERM U370, Faculté de Médecine Necker, Hôpital Necker, Paris, France
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Rispeter K, Lu M, Zibert A, Wiese M, de Oliveira JM, Roggendorf M. The "interferon sensitivity determining region" of hepatitis C virus is a stable sequence element. J Hepatol 1998; 29:352-61. [PMID: 9764980 DOI: 10.1016/s0168-8278(98)80051-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS A sequence of 40 amino acids within the nonstructural protein 5A of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been suggested to be an interferon sensitivity determining region (ISDR). The variations in the ISDR after 12-14 years of chronic infection and the correlation between ISDR and interferon response were studied in patients who were infected by the same HCV isolate. METHODS We determined the HCV-ISDRs of 13 chronically infected patients by direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction products. All patients were infected by isolate HCV-AD78, but differed with respect to their sensitivity to interferon. Four patients were complete responders, two patients were non-responders, and seven showed a partial response. RESULTS The ISDR of HCV-AD78 differed from a prototypical HCV-1b sequence in one amino acid and was therefore classified as an intermediate type. Direct sequencing of the HCV-ISDRs of the patients 12-14 years after infection, but before interferon therapy, revealed a rate of 2.2x10(-3) nucleotide substitutions per site per year, resulting in only single intermediate type amino acid exchanges. All sequences ranked with the intermediate type. Moreover, during interferon treatment no selection to a wild type ISDR was observed in five partial responders. CONCLUSIONS Within the homogeneous patient group examined here, no correlation was found between the ISDR and the interferon response. Recent studies found only a small number of mutant type ISDRs in Europe. Additionally, our results indicate that the ISDR is a stable sequence element. This provides an explanation for the divergent data relating to the importance of the ISDR in different geographical regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Rispeter
- Universitätsklinikum Essen, Institut für Virologie, Germany
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Polyak SJ, McArdle S, Liu SL, Sullivan DG, Chung M, Hofgärtner WT, Carithers RL, McMahon BJ, Mullins JI, Corey L, Gretch DR. Evolution of hepatitis C virus quasispecies in hypervariable region 1 and the putative interferon sensitivity-determining region during interferon therapy and natural infection. J Virol 1998; 72:4288-96. [PMID: 9557719 PMCID: PMC109659 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.72.5.4288-4296.1998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/1997] [Accepted: 01/20/1998] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
To study hepatitis C virus (HCV) genetic mutation during interferon (IFN) therapy, the temporal changes in HCV quasispecies heterogeneity were compared before and after treatment for nine patients infected with HCV genotype 1, including four nonresponders, four responders who relapsed after therapy, and one responder who experienced a breakthrough of viremia during therapy. Nine untreated patients with an average time between specimens of 8.4 years served as controls. Sequences from the second envelope glycoprotein gene hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) and the putative IFN sensitivity-determining region (ISDR) of the nonstructural NS5A gene were analyzed by heteroduplex mobility assays and nucleotide sequencing. A strong positive correlation was found between the percent change in a heteroduplex mobility ratio (HMR) and percent change in nucleotide sequence (r = 0.941, P < 0.001). The rate of fixation of mutations in the HVR1 was significantly higher for IFN-treated patients than for controls (6.97 versus 1.31% change in HMR/year; P = 0.02). Similarly, a higher rate of fixation of mutations was observed in the ISDR for IFN-treated patients than for untreated controls, although the result was not significant (1.45 versus 0.15 amino acid changes/year; P = 0.12). On an individual patient basis, IFN therapy was associated with measurable HVR1 and ISDR mutation in nine of nine (100%) and two of nine (22.2%) patients, respectively. Evolution to IFN-resistant ISDR sequences was observed in only one of nine IFN-treated patients. These data suggest that IFN therapy frequently exerts pressure on the HCV envelope region, while pressure on the ISDR was evident in only a subset of patients. Thus, the selection pressures evoked on HCV genotype 1 quasispecies during IFN therapy appear to differ among different patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Polyak
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
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Toyoda H, Fukuda Y, Nakano I, Katano Y, Takayama T, Kumada T, Nakano S, Takamatsu J, Saito H, Hayakawa T. Quasispecies nature of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in patients with chronic hepatitis C with mixed HCV subtypes. J Med Virol 1998. [DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-9071(199802)54:2<80::aid-jmv2>3.0.co;2-k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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