Clinical impact of non-organ-specific autoantibodies on the response to combined antiviral treatment in patients with hepatitis C

Easy recognition and high autoimmune hepatitis specificity of smooth muscle antibodies giving an actin microfilament immunofluorescent pattern on embryonal vascular smooth muscle cells

Smooth muscle antibodies (SMA) with anti-microfilament actin (MF-SMA) specificity are regarded as highly specific markers of type 1 autoimmune hepatitis (AIH-1) but their recognition relying on immunofluorescence of vessel, glomeruli, and tubules (SMA-VGT pattern) in rodent kidney tissue, is restricted by operator-dependent interpretation. A gold standard method for their identification is not available. We assessed and compared the diagnostic accuracy for AIH-1 of an embryonal aorta vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cell line-based assay with those of the rodent tissue-based assay for the detection of MF-SMA pattern in AIH-1 patients and controls. Sera from 138 AIH-1 patients and 295 controls (105 primary biliary cholangitis, 40 primary sclerosing cholangitis, 50 chronic viral hepatitis, 20 alcohol-related liver disease, 40 steatotic liver disease, and 40 healthy controls) were assayed for MF-SMA and SMA-VGT using VSM-based and rodent tissue-based assays, respectively. MF-SMA and SMA-VGT were found in 96 (70%) and 87 (63%) AIH-1 patients, and 2 controls (P < 0.0001). Compared with SMA-VGT, MF-SMA showed similar specificity (99%), higher sensitivity (70% vs 63%, P = ns) and likelihood ratio for a positive test (70 vs 65). Nine (7%) AIH-1 patients were MF-SMA positive despite being SMA-VGT negative. Overall agreement between SMA-VGT and MF-SMA was 87% (kappa coefficient 0.870, [0.789-0.952]). MF-SMA were associated with higher serum γ-globulin [26 (12-55) vs 20 g/l (13-34), P < 0.005] and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels [3155 (1296-7344) vs 2050 mg/dl (1377-3357), P < 0.002]. The easily recognizable IFL MF-SMA pattern on VSM cells strongly correlated with SMA-VGT and has an equally high specificity for AIH-1. Confirmation of these results in other laboratories would support the clinical application of the VSM cell-based assay for reliable detection of AIH-specific SMA.

Exploring T-Cell Immunity to Hepatitis C Virus: Insights from Different Vaccine and Antigen Presentation Strategies

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is responsible for approximately 50 million infections worldwide. Effective drug treatments while available face access barriers, and vaccine development is hampered by viral hypervariability and immune evasion mechanisms. The CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses targeting HCV non-structural (NS) proteins have shown a role in the viral clearance. In this paper, we reviewed the studies exploring the relationship between HCV structural and NS proteins and their effects in contributing to the elicitation of an effective T-cell immune response. The use of different vaccine platforms, such as viral vectors and virus-like particles, underscores their versability and efficacy for vaccine development. Diverse HCV antigens demonstrated immunogenicity, eliciting a robust immune response, positioning them as promising vaccine candidates for protein/peptide-, DNA-, or RNA-based vaccines. Moreover, adjuvant selection plays a pivotal role in modulating the immune response. This review emphasizes the importance of HCV proteins and vaccination strategies in vaccine development. In particular, the NS proteins are the main focus, given their pivotal role in T-cell-mediated immunity and their sequence conservation, making them valuable vaccine targets.

Therapeutic Potential of Rituximab in Managing Hepatitis C-Associated Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis: A Systematic Review

(1) Background. Hepatitis C infection often leads to extrahepatic manifestations, including cryoglobulinemic vasculitis. This systematic review aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of rituximab in treating hepatitis C-associated cryoglobulinemic vasculitis. (2) Methods. Following PRISMA guidelines, databases were searched for relevant studies. Eligibility criteria included studies on hepatitis C-associated cryoglobulinemic vasculitis treated with rituximab. (3) Results. Nine studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in this analysis. Rituximab was commonly administered at 375 mg/m2 weekly for one month. The results consistently demonstrated the efficacy of rituximab, whether as a standalone treatment or as part of a therapeutic regimen. The combination of rituximab with Peg-IFN-α and ribavirin significantly increased the complete response rate compared to Peg-IFN-α and ribavirin alone (54.5% vs. 33.3%, p < 0.05). The 3-year sustained response rate was notably higher in the rituximab combination group (83.3% vs. 40%). In another trial, rituximab achieved remission in 83.3% of patients at 6 months, compared to only 8.3% in the control group. The efficacy of rituximab was supported by long-term experience, with clinical benefits in patients with severe cryoglobulinemic vasculitis, including those resistant to standard therapies. Mild adverse events were generally reported, with rare severe reactions in some studies. (4) Conclusions: In conclusion, rituximab appeared to be effective and safe in managing hepatitis C-associated cryoglobulinemic vasculitis, either alone or with antiviral therapy.

High prevalence of antinuclear antibodies in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Background

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a serious public health concern due to its high prevalence and mortality rate. In chronic infection, HCV may induce autoimmune responses through the production of autoantibodies, including antinuclear antibodies (ANA).

Methods

We assessed the presence of ANA by indirect immunofluorescence using HEp-2 cells in 89 patients with chronic hepatitis C. We also collected data on epidemiological variables; clinical characteristics; and biochemical, hematological, molecular, and histopathological information from the patients to assess the impact of the presence of ANA in those patients.

Results

The prevalence of ANA in the patients was 20.2%, which was significantly higher than that found in healthy controls (2%). However, there was no association of this marker with epidemiological, clinical-laboratory, molecular or histopathological characteristics of hepatitis C, although a slightly higher prevalence of ANA was detected in women and in patients infected with subgenotype 1a. In a specific analysis, chronic HCV patients with the “rods and rings” cytoplasmic pattern had higher degrees of hepatic fibrosis than did ANA-negative patients.

Conclusions

The results confirm a greater predisposition to the presence of ANA in patients with HCV, which may be associated with a worse prognosis, especially in the presence of the “rods and rings” cytoplasmic pattern.

Autoantibodies and Rheumatologic Manifestations in Hepatitis C Virus Infection

HCV is a virus that can cause chronic infection which can result in a systemic disease that may include many rheumatologic manifestations such as arthritis, myalgia, sicca syndrome, cryoglobulinemia vasculitis as well as other non-rheumatological disorders (renal failure, onco-haematological malignancies). In this population, the high frequency of rheumatoid factor (45-70%), antinuclear (10-40%) and anticardiolipin (15-20%) antibodies is a B-cell mediated finding sustained by the infection. However, the possibility that a primitive rheumatic pathology may coexist with the HCV infection is not to be excluded thus complicating a differential diagnosis between primitive and HCV-related disorders.

Anti-rods/rings autoantibody and IMPDH filaments: an update after fifteen years of discovery

Autoantibodies to unknown subcellular rod and ring-shaped structures were first discovered in sera from hepatitis C patients in 2005. Early studies showed a strong association between these anti-rods/rings antibodies (anti-RR) and the standard of care interferon-α plus ribavirin combination therapy (IFN/RBV), suggesting that anti-RR are drug-induced autoantibodies. In the context of hepatitis C, anti-RR have been linked with relapse from or lack of response to IFN/RBV in some patient cohorts. However, examples of anti-RR in other diseases and healthy individuals have also been reported over the years, although anti-RR remains a rare autoantibody response in general. The advent of new direct-acting antiviral drugs for chronic hepatitis C and studies of anti-RR from different parts of the world are also beginning to change the perception of anti-RR. The nucleotide biosynthetic enzyme inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) has been identified as the major autoantigen recognized by anti-RR. Coincidentally, the assembly of IMPDH into micron-scale rod and ring-shaped structures was discovered around the same time as anti-RR. Knowledge of the fundamental biological properties and cellular functions of these structures, referred to as "IMPDH filaments" by cell biologists, has advanced in parallel to anti-RR antibodies. Recent studies have revealed that IMPDH filament assembly is a mechanism to prevent feedback inhibition of IMPDH and is therefore important for the increased nucleotide production required in hyperproliferating cells, like activated T cells. Fifteen years later, we review the history and current knowledge in both the anti-RR autoantibody and IMPDH filament fields. TAKE-HOME MESSAGE: Anti-rods/rings are recognized as an example of a drug-induced autoantibody in hepatitis C patients treated with interferon and ribavirin, although new studies suggest anti-rods/rings may be detected in other contexts and may depend on unknown environmental or genetic factors in different populations. Recent data suggest that the assembly of IMPDH into rod and ring structures, the targets of anti-rods/rings autoantibody, is a mechanism for hyperproliferating cells, like activated T cells, to maintain increased guanine nucleotide levels to support rapid cell division.

Nadir CD4 Is Negatively Associated With Antinuclear Antibody Detection in HCV/HIV-Coinfected Patients

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV infections are associated with higher risk of autoimmune diseases and T-cell dysfunction.

SETTING

We evaluate prevalence and factors associated with the presence of autoimmune antinuclear (ANA), anti-smooth muscle actin (aSMA), and anti-liver kidney microsome (aLKM1) antibodies (Ab) in HCV/HIV-coinfected patients during the post-combined antiretroviral therapy era.

METHODS

A cross-sectional observational study nested in the ANRS CO13 HEPAVIH cohort (NCT number: NCT03324633). We selected patients with both ANA testing and T-cell immunophenotyping determination during the cohort follow-up and collected aLKM1 and aSMA data when available. Logistic regression models were built to determine factors associated with the presence of auto-Ab.

RESULTS

Two hundred twenty-three HCV/HIV-coinfected patients fulfilled selection criteria. Prevalence of ANA and aSMA was 43.5% and 23.2%, respectively, and both were detected in 13.3% of patients. Isolated aSMA were detected in 9.9% and aLKM1 in 2 patients. In multivariable analysis, only a low nadir CD4 T-cell count was significantly associated with ANA detection.

CONCLUSIONS

ANA and aSMA detection remain frequent in HCV/HIV-coinfected patients during the post-combined antiretroviral therapy era, despite fair immune restoration. These results advocate for a close monitoring of ANA before immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in these patients with greater caution for those with a low nadir CD4 T-cell count.

Autoantibodies in chronic hepatitis C virus infection: impact on clinical outcomes and extrahepatic manifestations

Goals

To examine the role that autoantibodies (auto-abs) play in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) regarding demographics, presence of extrahepatic manifestations and long-term outcomes in a large US cohort.

Background

Auto-abs have been reported to be prevalent in patients with chronic HCV infection, but data on the natural history of these patients are limited.

Study

The study included 1556 consecutive patients with HCV without concurrent HIV and/or HBV who had testing for antinuclear antibody (ANA), antimitochondrial antibody (AMA), antismooth muscle antibody (ASMA) and/or antiliver kidney microsomal antibody (LKM). Primary outcomes included development of cirrhosis, hepatic decompensations, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), mortality and/or sustained virological response (SVR) to antiviral therapy.

Results

A total of 388 patients tested positive for any auto-ab (ANA 21.8%, ASMA 13.3%, AMA 2.2% and LKM 1.2%). Patients who tested positive versus negative were more likely to be women (29.3% vs 20.9%, p<0.001) and less likely to achieve SVR with most treated patients receiving interferon-based therapies (37.2% vs 47.1%, p=0.031). There was no difference between groups for baseline laboratory data, disease state or rate of extrahepatic manifestations (42.8% vs 45.0%, p=0.44). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed no statistically significant difference between groups for the 10-year development of cirrhosis, hepatic decompensations, HCC nor survival. Furthermore, auto-ab positivity was only found to be a predictor for a lower rate of SVR on multivariate analysis (adjusted OR=1.61, 95 %  CI 1.00 to 2.58, p=0.048).

Conclusions

In our cohort, auto-ab positivity was common, especially in women, and predicted a lower rate of SVR but otherwise had no impact on the natural history of chronic HCV or presence of extrahepatic manifestations.

Diagnostic approach to autoimmune hepatitis

INTRODUCTION

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic inflammatory liver disease which, if left without treatment, can evolve into cirrhosis and possibly liver failure. The diagnosis of AIH is hampered by the lack of specific and reliable markers of the disease and a number of clinical, biochemical, immunological, histological and genetic factors should be considered to reach a confident diagnosis Areas covered: Clinical expression of AIH, histological features, serological and genetic profiles, differential diagnosis, overlap with other autoimmune liver diseases, assessed on the basis of personal experience and review of published literature in the last 10 years through a systematic Medline search (keywords: autoimmune hepatitis, diagnosis) Expert commentary: Notwithstanding numerous efforts to identify simple and reliable markers of the disease, the diagnosis of AIH is still based on the combination of histological, immunological and biochemical features and often can represent a real challenge for the hepatologist.

Anti-rods/rings autoantibody seropositivity does not affect response to telaprevir treatment for chronic hepatitis C infection

PURPOSE

Autoantibodies to intracellular 'rods and rings' structures (anti-rods/rings or anti-RR) are strongly associated with hepatitis C (HCV) patients treated with interferon-α/ribavirin (IFN/RBV) and are linked with non-responsiveness to IFN/RBV or relapse, especially in Italian patients. This is the first study to determine whether there is any correlation of anti-RR with non-responsiveness to IFN/RBV treatment in patients also treated with telaprevir (TPV), one of several new therapies for chronic HCV recently implemented.

METHODS

From 2013 to 2014, 52 HCV-infected patients were treated with IFN/RBV and TPV at five Italian clinics. Patient sera were collected and analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence for the presence of anti-RR antibodies. Patients were classified as anti-RR positive or anti-RR negative, and then various biological and clinical variables were analyzed to compare the two groups, including gender, age, HCV genotype, previous IFN/RBV treatment, and IFN/RBV/TPV treatment outcome.

RESULTS

Of these 52 HCV patients treated with IFN/RBV/TPV, 10/32 (31%) who previously received IFN/RBV were anti-RR positive, compared to 0 of 20 treatment-naïve patients. Anti-RR-positive patients relapsed more than anti-RR-negative patients (3/10, 30% vs. 2/42, 5%; p < 0.05). However, zero anti-RR-positive patients were non-responsive, and frequencies of sustained virological response were similar (anti-RR positive: 7/10, 70% vs. anti-RR negative: 33/42, 79%).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the data suggest that anti-RR seropositivity is not associated with resistance to TPV treatment in this patient cohort, but monitoring anti-RR-positive patients for relapse within the first 6 months after treatment may be useful.

Autoimmune reactions in the course of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection

The immune response to the presence of the virus, both specific and non-specific, plays a decisive role in the natural history of the infection, and influences the intensity of lesions in the liver. Despite the great progress which we were able to observe over the last several years, many issues still require clarification.

The problem of autoimmune reactions during hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection includes at least two issues. First, the risk of exacerbating reactions against the organism’s own tissues that existed before the treatment. There is also an increased risk of the development of de novo autoimmune reactions, triggered mostly by interferon α. Hepatitis C virus infection predisposes to the development of diseases characterised as being certainly or probably immune-mediated.

Currently the situation has changed due to introducing non-interferon therapies for HCV treatment, which eliminate the risk associated with immunotherapy in patients with autoimmune diseases, yet the therapies are not widely available.

Autoantibodies in chronic hepatitis C: A clinical perspective

Non-organ-specific autoantibodies and thyroid autoantibodies have been frequently found in chronic carriers of hepatitis C virus (HCV). With respect to endomysial antibodies and tissue transglutaminase, it is controversial whether the prevalence of gluten-related seromarkers is higher in patients with HCV. In such cases, in addition to acknowledging any currently existing autoimmune disease, recognizing the risk of the patient developing an autoimmune disease during interferon (IFN)-based treatment must be a principle concern. From a clinical point-of-view, the presence of autoantibodies arouses suspicion that an autoimmune disease may be present or may be precipitated by IFN-based HCV treatment. In this paper, we review the prevalence of autoantibodies in individuals with hepatitis C, the clinical significance of these autoantibodies, and the approach recommended for such situations.

Evaluating the performance of the focus HerpeSelect® HSV-2 IgG in veterans with chronic hepatitis C infection

Epidemiologic links between chronic hepatitis C and herpes simplex type-2 infection have been suggested; however, type-specific tests for HSV-2 infection have not been validated in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. The Focus HerpeSelect(®) HSV-2 IgG (Cypress, California) assay and the Biokit HSV-2 rapid assay (Biokit USA, Lexington, MA) were performed on serum samples obtained from 84 veterans with chronic hepatitis C who demonstrated a previously positive HSV-2 serologic test in their medical records. Using the Biokit HSV-2 as the comparator assay, the positive predictive value, and specificity for the HerpeSelect(®) HSV-2 assay were 62.1% (95%CI: 49.3-73.8) and 41.9% (95%CI: 27.0-57.9), respectively. Increasing the HerpeSelect(®) HSV-2 index value defining a positive test result from >1.1 to ≥2.89 increased the assay's specificity to 97.7% (95%CI: 87.7-99.6) and the positive predictive value to 94.1%(95%CI: 71.2-99.0). J. Med. Virol. 9999: 1-5, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. In veterans with chronic hepatitis C infection, HerpeSelect(®) HSV-2 index values between 1.1 and 2.89 should be confirmed with an alternate test for HSV-2 infection.

Serum autoantibodies positivity prevalence in patients with chronic HCV and impact on pegylated interferon and ribavirin treatment response

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Prevalence of serum autoantibodies in chronic hepatitis C (HCV) patients is higher than that in the general population. Interferon may induce autoimmune manifestations in patients treated with peg-interferon and ribavirin. Effect of autoantibody seropositivity and treatment response are limited and controversial. To detect the prevalence of serum autoantibodies in patients with chronic HCV and impact on histopathology and treatment response.

METHODS

Retrospective study including 3673 Egyptian chronic HCV naïve patients enrolled in the Egyptian national programme for HCV treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin in the years 2007-2010. Antinuclear antibody (ANA) was determined by ELISA considered positive with a titre ≥ 1:40 by indirect immunofluorescence. ANA-positive patients pre treatment workup including serum aminotransferases, thyroid profile and liver biopsy, follow-up during treatment and sustained virological response (SVR) were assessed compared to ANA-negative patients.

RESULTS

Serum ANA was positive in 1.6% of the studied patients. There were no statistically significant differences concerning the demographic, biochemical and histopathological data in ANA positive and negative patients. SVR was comparable between ANA-positive and ANA-negative patients (67.8% and 61.3% respectively). Follow-up treatment; ANA-positive patients' did not experience statistically significant haematological complications, flare-up of serum transaminases, thyroid dysfunction. No systemic autoimmune disorders developed during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

ANA positivity is not a factor in chronic HCV disease progression and does not affect the treatment response. Pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy is safe and effective in autoantibodies-positive chronic HCV patients with no need for further follow-up or worry during the treatment in absence of systemic autoimmune disorders.

Autoantibody profile in individuals with chronic hepatitis C

INTRODUCTION

Autoantibodies are often produced during infection with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV), but it remains controversial whether they influence the biochemical profile and histological features of this disease. Therefore, this current study sought to describe these autoantibodies and evaluate their impact on the clinical and histological presentation of hepatitis C.

METHODS

This cross-sectional analytical study assessed patients with HCV (RNA+) from October 2011 to July 2012.

RESULTS

This study included 66 patients, with a mean age of 53.2±10.5 years. Of these patients, 60.6% were male, and 54.3% presented with genotype 1. Non-organ-specific autoantibodies (NOSA) were detected in 24% of the patients; of these, 7.6% were anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA+), 26.7% were anti-smooth muscle antibodies (SMA+) and 6.8% were liver kidney microsomal type 1 antibodies (LKM1+). With respect to the thyroid autoantibodies, 7.4% were anti-peroxidase (ATPO+) antibodies, and none were anti-thyroglobulin (ATG+) antibodies. Regarding celiac disease autoantibodies, 5.8% were endomysial antibodies (EMA+), and no transglutaminase (TTG+) antibodies were detected. Cryoglobulins were found in 2.1% of patients. When NOSA+ individuals were compared to patients without the presence of NOSAs, they exhibited higher median alkaline phosphatase (0.7 vs. 0.6 xULN; p=0.041), lower median platelet counts (141,500.0 vs. 180,500.0/mm 3 ; p=0.036), lower mean prothrombin activity (72.6±11.5% vs. 82.2±16.0%; p=0.012) and an increased prevalence of significant fibrosis (E≥2) (45.5% vs. 18.2%; p=0.012). There was also a tendency for a greater proportion of NOSA+ cases to have marked periportal activity (APP≥3) (44.5% vs. 15.6%; p=0.087).

CONCLUSIONS

In addition to the high prevalence of autoantibodies associated with HCV infection, it was observed that NOSA positivity was associated with a more severe histological and biochemical profile of hepatitis C infection.

Screening for autoantibodies in chronic hepatitis C patients has no effect on treatment initiation or outcome

Autoantibodies in hepatitis C virus-infected patients may indicate autoimmune hepatitis or other immune-mediated diseases. This may impact safety and efficacy of interferon-based therapy of chronic hepatitis C. We investigated the association between a positive test result for a variety of autoantibodies and the initiation and efficacy of therapy for chronic hepatitis C. We analysed an observational cohort of 24 306 patients for an association between autoantibodies and treatment outcome. 8241 patients were tested simultaneously for antinuclear antibodies (ANA), liver kidney microsomal antibodies (LKM), smooth muscle antibodies (SMA) and antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA). Matched-pair analysis was performed matching one autoantibody-positive patient to three controls. Control patients had negative tests for all four antibodies. Analyses were performed for patients with a single positive autoantibody test and for patients with multiple positive autoantibody tests. A positive test result for ANA, LKM, SMA or AMA did not affect the physician's decision to initiate therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. In addition, a positive test for one or multiple autoantibodies did not adversely affect sustained virologic response. There was no difference in fibrosis stage or alanine transaminase at baseline or during therapy irrespective of antibody status. Thyroid dysfunction was more frequent in patients with positive LKM antibodies (P = 0.004). Initiation of therapy for chronic hepatitis C and outcome were not affected by the presence of ANA, LKM, SMA or AMA. Routine testing of these autoantibodies seems not warranted. Determination of autoantibodies should be guided by individualized clinical decisions.

Clinical associations and potential novel antigenic targets of autoantibodies directed against rods and rings in chronic hepatitis C infection

Background

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is frequently associated with extrahepatic autoimmune disorders while interferon (IFN) and ribavirin treatment may exacerbate these conditions. Autoantibodies from HCV patients identify a novel indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) pattern on HEp-2 cells characterized by cytoplasmic rods and rings (RR). Our objectives were to determine the prevalence and clinical associations of RR autoantibodies in HCV patients, and identify related novel autoantibody targets.

Methods

Sera from 315 patients with HCV (301 treatment naive, 14 treated with interferon and/or ribavirin) were analyzed for the presence of RR antibodies by IIF on commercially available HEp-2 cell substrates. Antibodies to inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase 2 (IMPDH2) and cytidine triphosphate synthase 1 (CTPS1) were detected by addressable laser bead assay and other potential targets were identified by immunoscreening a protein microarray. Clinical and demographic data including HCV genotype, mode of infection, prior antiviral therapy, and histological findings were compared between RR antibody positive (RR+) and negative (RR-) patients.

Results

The median age of the HCV cohort was 51 years, 61% were male, and 76% were infected with HCV genotype 1 (G1). Four percent (n=14) had been treated with IFN-based therapy (IFN monotherapy, n=3; IFN/ribavirin, n=11); all had a sustained virologic response. In total, 15 patients (5% of the cohort) were RR+. RR+ and RR- patients had similar demographic and clinical characteristics including age, sex, mode of HCV infection, prevalence of the G1 HCV genotype, and moderate to severe fibrosis. Nevertheless, RR+ patients were significantly more likely than RR- cases to have been treated with IFN-based therapy (33% vs. 3%; adjusted odds ratio 20.5 [95% confidence interval 5.1-83.2]; P<0.0005). Only 1/10 RR positive sera had detectable antibodies to IMPHD2 and none had antibodies to CTPS1. Potentially important autoantibody targets identified on protein arrays included Myc-associated zinc finger protein (MAZI) and ankyrin repeat motif.

Conclusion

The majority of HCV patients with RR autoantibodies previously received IFN/ribavirin antiviral therapy. Further studies are necessary to determine the genesis of intracellular RR and elucidate the clinically relevant autoantigens as well as the clinical and prognostic significance of their cognate autoantibodies.

Autoantibodies in liver disease: important clues for the diagnosis, disease activity and prognosis

It has been well established that numerous kinds of autoantibodies have been detected in liver disease. Some kinds of autoantibodies may be helpful in the diagnosis of autoimmune liver diseases including autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis or primary sclerosing cholangitis. However, these autoantibodies are present even in sera of patients with viral hepatitis, drug-induced hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatocelluar carcinoma as well as in sera of patients with autoimmune liver diseases. Other kinds of autoantibodies are recognized as predictive hallmarks for disease activity or prognosis in liver diseases. On the other hand, treatment with interferon initiates the production of several types of autoantibodies in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Some of autoantibodies induced by interferon may postulate the treatment outcome in those patients. Recent studies also revealed the close correlation between oxidative stress and the production of autoantibodies in liver diseases. This article primarily reviews the recent advances of autoantibodies in the liver diseases and discusses the clinical significance of these autoantibodies.

Development of a recombinant cell-based indirect immunofluorescence assay (RC-IFA) for the determination of autoantibodies against "rings and rods"-associated inosine-5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase 2 in viral hepatitis C

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Autoantibodies against so-called "rings and rods" structures, as determined by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using the human cell line HEp-2, have been described in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients treated with interferon/ribavirin. Recently, cytidine triphosphate synthase (CTPS) and inosine-5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase 2 (IMPDH2), the enzyme inhibited by ribavirin, were proposed as the target antigens. We wanted to confirm the identification and setup a robust system for autoantibody testing in routine laboratories.

METHODS

CTPS and IMPDH2 were individually expressed in HEK293 cells and the recombinant cells were used in IFA (RC-IFA) to analyze sera from 33 anti-"rings and rods" antibody positive individuals with unknown diagnosis, 50 patients with chronic HCV infection, 100 with autoimmune hepatitis, 50 with primary biliary cirrhosis and 50 healthy blood donors.

RESULTS

We found that all sera with anti-"rings and rods" reacted with recombinant IMPDH2 but none with CTPS. In western blot or ELISA, anti-IMPDH2 positive sera reacted only weakly, if at all, with Escherichia coli derived recombinant IMPDH2 indicating that the autoantibody reaction probably depends on the 3-dimensional conformation of the antigen. A rabbit hyperimmune serum raised against bacterially expressed IMPDH2 produced the ring/rods pattern in IFA using HEp-2.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude, that IMPDH2 is indeed the main target of anti-"rings and rods" while CTPS is an unlikely target. Moreover, the novel RC-IFA test system allows a standardized semi-quantitative determination of anti-IMPDH2 basing on a defined recombinant antigen.

Study of non-organ-specific antibodies in children with genotype 4 chronic hepatitis C

BACKGROUND/AIM

Adult studies established a relationship between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the presence of non-organ-specific antibodies (NOSAs). Most studies were carried out on genotypes 1 and 2. Only a few studies addressed that issue in pediatrics. No studies have been carried out on autoimmunity and genotype 4 in children. We aim to investigate NOSAs in 80 Egyptian children with chronic HCV infection along with studying the underlying genotype of HCV, and correlating autoimmunity with the epidemiological, clinical, biochemical, and virological features.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

HCV-RNA was assayed by the polymerase chain reaction and viral genotypes were determined. NOSAs were measured and liver biopsies were taken for histopathological examination.

RESULTS

Genotype 4 was the only detected genotype in the included 80 patients. Anti-smooth muscle antibodies (ASMA) were the only detected antibodies in 32 (40%) patients, always with V specificity (vessels only) at titers ranging from 1:20 and 1:160. Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) and liver-kidney microsomal antibodies-1 (LKMA-1) were not detected in any of our patients. Epidemiologic and clinical features did not significantly differ between autoantibody-positive and -negative patients. Among biochemical features, significantly high levels of total bilirubin, albumin, immunoglobulins, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase were found in the antibody-positive group.

CONCLUSION

Genotype 4 HCV is the prevailing genotype in Egyptian children with chronic HCV infection. A consistent proportion of these children with chronic HCV infection circulate non-organ-specific autoantibodies. The prevalence of ASMA and the absence of ANA and LKMA-1 might be related to the unique situation in Egypt with unique prevalence of genotype 4. More studies are warranted on larger pediatric population to validate these findings.

Host factors determining the efficacy of hepatitis C treatment

Combination therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin is the standard of care (SOC) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Treating CHC with SOC may show a sustained virological response (SVR) in approximately 50-70 % of genotype 1 CHC patients and an SVR in 70-90 % of genotype 2 CHC patients. The genotype, baseline viral load, and viral kinetics (i.e., rapid virologic response and early virologic response) can be used as predictors of response-guided therapy. Nonetheless, host factors, e.g. age, ethnicity, insulin resistance, and genetic variations, may also play important roles in the SVR in CHC patients treated with SOC. Recent genome-wide association studies have demonstrated that single-nucleotide polymorphisms near the interleukin 28B gene (IL28B) were associated with SVR to treatment with SOC in CHC patients. The IL28B polymorphisms may contribute to the viral kinetics during treatment. Asian people have favorable IL28B polymorphisms. This factor may at least partly explain the high eradication rate of hepatitis C by SOC in Asia. Combination therapy with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and SOC can increase the SVR rates both in treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced patients. Although the IL28B polymorphisms also affect the SVR of triple therapy with SOC and first-generation protease inhibitors, pilot studies have demonstrated that potent DAAs might overcome the influence of IL28B polymorphisms. Thus, the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection could be simplified in the near future.

Differential reactivity to IMPDH2 by anti-rods/rings autoantibodies and unresponsiveness to pegylated interferon-alpha/ribavirin therapy in US and Italian HCV patients

PURPOSE

Autoantibodies to cytoplasmic structures called rods and rings (RR) are primarily specific to patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection treated with pegylated interferon-alpha/ribavirin (IFN/R). Our aim is to examine anti-RR antibodies specificity and correlation with the response to IFN/R therapy in two independent cohorts (US and Italy) of HCV patients.

METHODS

Sera from the US cohort (n = 47) and the Italian cohort (n = 46) pre-selected for anti-RR antibodies were analyzed by immunofluorescence and radioimmunoprecipitation. The prevalence and titers of anti-RR were analyzed for correlation with the response to IFN/R therapy.

RESULTS

In the US cohort, anti-RR antibodies were more frequently non-responders to IFN/R (71 % vs 29 % responders). Titers in responder patients (n = 11) were ≤1:3200, whereas titers in non-responder patients (n = 27) reached 1:819,200 (p = 0.0016). In the Italian cohort, anti-RR titers ranged from 1:200 to >1:819,200 and only relapsers had the highest anti-RR titers. Radioimmunoprecipitation demonstrated that anti-RR autoantibodies were mainly anti-inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase 2 (IMPDH2) - 96 % in the Italian cohort vs. 53 % in the US cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

In the two cohorts analyzed, the anti-IMPDH2 response as a component of the anti-RR response is much more prominent in the Italian cohort. The reason for the difference between the US and Italian cohorts is unclear but it possibly illustrates the heterogeneity in response and the overall negative correlation between the production of these autoantibodies and response to IFN/R therapy. Patients with high titer anti-RR antibodies are either relapsers (Italian) or non-responders/relapsers (US).

Hepatitis C virus infection and autoimmunity

According to the WHO estimates, the rate of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is approximately 3% in the world, and approximately 170 million people are infected with HCV. About 3.15 million new cases of HCV infection are diagnosed each year. Multiple autoantibodies can often be detected in patients with chronic HCV infection. Elucidation of the relationship between HCV infection and autoimmunity will open new perspectives for understanding the pathogenesis of HCV infection and the natural history of hepatitis C.

Extrahepatic manifestations and autoantibodies in patients with hepatitis C virus infection

Patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection frequently have many extrahepatic manifestations, as persistent HCV infection often triggers lymphoproliferative disorders and metabolic abnormalities. These manifestations primarily include autoimmune disorders such as cryoglobulinemia, Sjögren's syndrome, and autoimmune thyroid disorders. It has been well established that chronic HCV infection plays important roles in the production of non-organ-specific autoantibodies, including antinuclear antibodies and smooth muscle antibodies, and organ-specific autoantibodies such as thyroid autoantibodies. However, the clinical significance of autoantibodies associated with the extrahepatic manifestations caused by HCV infection has not been fully recognized. In this paper, we mainly focus on the relationship between extrahepatic manifestations and the emergence of autoantibodies in patients with HCV infection and discuss the clinical relevance of the autoantibodies in the extrahepatic disorders.

Extrahepatic manifestations and autoantibodies in patients with hepatitis C virus infection

Patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection frequently have many extrahepatic manifestations, as persistent HCV infection often triggers lymphoproliferative disorders and metabolic abnormalities. These manifestations primarily include autoimmune disorders such as cryoglobulinemia, Sjögren's syndrome, and autoimmune thyroid disorders. It has been well established that chronic HCV infection plays important roles in the production of non-organ-specific autoantibodies, including antinuclear antibodies and smooth muscle antibodies, and organ-specific autoantibodies such as thyroid autoantibodies. However, the clinical significance of autoantibodies associated with the extrahepatic manifestations caused by HCV infection has not been fully recognized. In this paper, we mainly focus on the relationship between extrahepatic manifestations and the emergence of autoantibodies in patients with HCV infection and discuss the clinical relevance of the autoantibodies in the extrahepatic disorders.

Extrahepatic manifestations and autoantibodies in patients with hepatitis C virus infection

Patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection frequently have many extrahepatic manifestations, as persistent HCV infection often triggers lymphoproliferative disorders and metabolic abnormalities. These manifestations primarily include autoimmune disorders such as cryoglobulinemia, Sjögren's syndrome, and autoimmune thyroid disorders. It has been well established that chronic HCV infection plays important roles in the production of non-organ-specific autoantibodies, including antinuclear antibodies and smooth muscle antibodies, and organ-specific autoantibodies such as thyroid autoantibodies. However, the clinical significance of autoantibodies associated with the extrahepatic manifestations caused by HCV infection has not been fully recognized. In this paper, we mainly focus on the relationship between extrahepatic manifestations and the emergence of autoantibodies in patients with HCV infection and discuss the clinical relevance of the autoantibodies in the extrahepatic disorders.

Autoimmunity and extrahepatic manifestations in treatment-naïve children with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been associated with autoimmunity and extrahepatic manifestations in adults. Few data are available on these topics in children. Nonorgan specific auto-antibodies development is part of the natural course of chronic hepatitis C in children. Smooth muscle autoantibody is the most common autoantibody found, while liver-kidney microsomal type-1 antibody positivity is the most peculiar autoimmune feature of children with HCV infection. The clinical significance of non-organ specific autoantibodies in the course of paediatric chronic hepatitis C is still debated. Autoantibody positivity can be considered neutral for most patients, while it can be associated with negative connotations for others, especially those positive for liver-kidney microsomal type-1 autoantibody. Subclinical hypothyroidism but not autoimmune thyroiditis has been demonstrated in HCV infection in children, while only few cases of HCV-associated membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis have been described. Single reports are available in the literature reporting the anecdotal association between chronic hepatitis C and other extrahepatic manifestations such as myopathy and opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome. Despite the low incidence of extrahepatic manifestations of chronic hepatitis C in children, overall, available data suggest a careful monitoring.

Antinuclear antibody titer and treatment response to peginterferon plus ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C patients

Positive serum antinuclear antibody (ANA) is not infrequent in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients. This prospective study evaluated the impact of ANA on the response to and safety of peginterferon/ribavirin combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C patients in clinical practice. We enrolled 243 consecutive patients who were treated with a 24-week regimen of peginterferon-α plus ribavirin, with a 24-week follow-up period. ANA titer was determined before antiviral treatment. The primary end-point was sustained virological response (SVR), defined as HCV RNA <50 IU/mL throughout the follow-up period. Overall, 187 (77.0%) patients experienced a SVR. In the 105-patient HCV genotype non-1 group, patients with ANA titer ≥1:80 had a significantly lower SVR rate than those with ANA titer <1:80 (67.7% vs. 95.8%, respectively, p = 0.013). In contrast, in the 138-patient HCV genotype 1 group, the SVR rate did not differ between patients with and without ANA titer ≥1:80. Multivariate regressive analyses showed that ANA ≥1:80, age and HCV RNA levels were independent factors associated with SVR in HCV genotype non-1 patients; whereas HCV RNA levels and hepatic fibrosis were prognostic predictors of SVR in HCV genotype 1 patients. The frequencies of adverse events were similar between patients with and without ANA seropositivity. Peginterferon/ribavirin combination therapy is effective and safe in ANA-positive chronic hepatitis C patients. A high ANA titer was a negative prognostic factor for treatment response in HCV genotype non-1 patients.

Effectiveness and safety of everolimus in the treatment of autoimmune hepatitis related to anti-hepatitis C virus therapy after liver transplant: three case reports

Treatment of recurrent hepatitis C after liver transplantation is indicated in selected cases. During the combined treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin, some patients develop immune-mediated liver dysfunction similar to the previously described "de novo" autoimmune hepatitis. Herein we have presented three liver transplant patients who during or after combined antiviral treatment were diagnosed as autoimmune hepatitis related to interferon based on their clinical, biochemical, and liver histology features. There were two women and one man, of ages 49, 52, and 49 years who were transplanted due to cirrhosis related to hepatitis C virus genotype 1. In two patients, elevated liver enzymes occurred during antiviral therapy and in the third, after the therapy. The diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis was reached after excluding other possible causes. One patient had a sustained viral response; and two cases were nonresponders. Antinuclear antibodies were present in two subjects and antinuclear antibodies and anti-smooth muscle antibodies in the other case. First-line treatment of autoimmune hepatitis with prednisone and azathioprine stabilized clinical and biochemical parameters'. In order to avoid the long-term use of prednisone, everolimus was introduced in the three patients. Interestingly, hepatitis C did not progress and clinical, biochemical, as well as histological parameters stabilized. In one patient, the liver fibrosis stage as assessed by histology showed improvement. However, one subject experienced repeated cerebral hemorrhage and died. Although this is heterogeneous population with partially known characteristics, with a difficult differential diagnosis, the objectives of preserving liver function and avoiding recurrent progressive hepatitis C seemed to be achieved by adding everolimus. In addition, we totally stopped prednisone therapy. In conclusion, treatment with everolimus in combination with cyclosporine achieved a partial remission in two liver transplan cases of autoimmune hepatitis related to interferon therapy.

Clinical significance of the detection of antinuclear antibodies in patients with acute hepatitis a

Background/Aims

The findings of several recent studies suggest that antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) are frequently detected in patients with acute hepatitis A (AHA). However, the clinical significance of a positive ANA test remains uncertain. This study was performed to evaluate the clinical significance of ANAs in AHA patients.

Methods

All patients admitted with AHA were consecutively enrolled in this study. An ANA assay was performed by indirect immunofluorescence during hospitalization. ANA positivity was defined as an ANA titer ≥1:80. The peak international normalized ratio (INR), peak alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and peak bilirubin levels were assessed over the duration of the hospitalization, and the incidence of AHA complications was evaluated.

Results

A total of 422 patients were enrolled in this study (age, 31±7 years), of which 260 (61.6%) were men. ANAs were detected in 179 AHA patients (42.4%). The proportion of ANA-positive patients varied significantly with AHA status on the day of the ANA assay (4.7% during the prodromal period vs 52.1% during the icteric or recovery period, p<0.001) and sex (56.2% in women vs 33.8% in men, p<0.001). The ANAs became undetectable in all ANA-positive patients within 3 months. The incidence of complications, including mortality, fulminant hepatic failure, renal dysfunction, relapse, and cholestatic hepatitis, did not differ significantly between ANA-positive and ANA-negative patients.

Conclusions

ANAs were detected frequently and transiently in patients with AHA, especially after their peak-ALT day. The presence of ANAs may not be associated with the clinical outcome of AHA, but simply with AHA status on the ANA assay day.

A multifaceted imbalance of T cells with regulatory function characterizes type 1 autoimmune hepatitis

Immunotolerance is maintained by regulatory T cells (Tregs), including CD4(+)CD25(hi), CD8(+)CD28(-), gammadelta, and CD3(+)CD56(+) [natural killer T (NKT)] cells. CD4(+)CD25(hi) cells are impaired in children with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Little is known about Tregs in adults with AIH. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and function of Treg subsets in adult patients with AIH during periods of active disease and remission. Forty-seven AIH patients (16 with active disease and 31 in remission) and 28 healthy controls were studied. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate surface markers and function-related intracellular molecules in gammadelta, CD8(+)CD28(-), NKT, and CD4(+)CD25(hi) cells. CD4(+)CD25(hi) T cell function was determined by the ability to suppress proliferation and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) production by CD4(+)CD25(-) target cells. Liver forkhead box P3-positive (FOXP3(+)) cells were sought by immunohistochemistry. In AIH patients, particularly during active disease, CD4(+)CD25(hi) T cells were fewer, expressed lower levels of FOXP3, and were less effective at inhibiting target cell proliferation versus healthy controls. Moreover, although the numbers of CD8(+)CD28(-) T cells were similar in AIH patients and healthy controls, NKT cells were numerically reduced, especially during active disease, and produced lower quantities of the immunoregulatory cytokine interleukin-4 versus controls. In contrast, gammadelta T cells in AIH patients were more numerous versus healthy controls and had an inverted Vdelta1/Vdelta2 ratio and higher IFN-gamma and granzyme B production; the latter was correlated to biochemical indices of liver damage. There were few FOXP3(+) cells within the portal tract inflammatory infiltrate.

CONCLUSION

Our data show that the defect in immunoregulation in adult AIH is complex, and gammadelta T cells are likely to be effectors of liver damage.

Clinical features and effect of antiviral therapy on anti-liver/kidney microsomal antibody type 1 positive chronic hepatitis C

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Anti-liver/kidney microsomal antibody type 1 (anti-LKM1), a serological marker of type 2 autoimmune hepatitis, is also detected in a small proportion of patients with hepatitis C. This study aimed to evaluate clinical features and effect of antiviral therapy in patients with hepatitis C who are anti-LKM1 positive.

METHODS

Sixty consecutive anti-LKM1 positive and 120 age and sex-matched anti-LKM1 negative chronic hepatitis C patients were assessed at diagnosis and during follow-up. Of these, 26 anti-LKM1 positive and 72 anti-LKM1 negative received antiviral therapy. Anti-LKM1 was detected by indirect immunofluorescence and immunoblot. Number of HCV-infected hepatocytes and intrahepatic CD8+ lymphocytes was determined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

At diagnosis anti-LKM1 positive patients had higher IgG levels and more intrahepatic CD8+ lymphocytes (p 0.022 and 0.046, respectively). Viral genotypes distribution and response to therapy were identical. Hepatic flares during antiviral treatment only occurred in a minority of patients in concomitance with anti-LKM1 positivity.

CONCLUSIONS

Immune system activation is more pronounced in anti-LKM1 positive patients with hepatitis C, possibly representing the expression of autoimmune mechanisms of liver damage. Antiviral treatment is as beneficial in these patients as in anti-LKM1 negative patients, and the rare necroinflammatory flares are effectively controlled by corticosteroids, allowing subsequent resumption of antiviral therapy.

The serological profile of the autoimmune hepatitis/primary biliary cirrhosis overlap syndrome

OBJECTIVES

During the last decade patients with concomitant clinical, biochemical, immunoserological, and histological features of both autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) were sporadically described, but definite diagnostic criteria and specific serological markers to support the diagnosis of AIH/PBC overlap syndrome (AIH/PBC OS) are still lacking.

METHODS

Clinical, biochemical, and histological features, autoantibody profile, and treatment response of 15 patients with coexistent hepatitic and cholestatic liver damage, all fulfilling strict diagnostic criteria for both AIH and PBC, were compared with those of 120 patients with pure PBC and 120 patients with pure AIH.

RESULTS

At diagnosis, the AIH/PBC OS patients' median age was 51 years, similar to that of the PBC patients (52 years, P=NS), but significantly higher than that of the AIH patients (40 years, P=0.04). Anti-dsDNA antibodies were detected in 60% of AIH/PBC OS patients, but only in 4% of PBC patients and 26% of AIH patients (P<0.0001 and 0.01, respectively). Double positivity for antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA) and anti-dsDNA was present in 47% of those with AIH/PBC OS, but only in 2% of the pathological controls (P<0.0001; specificity: 98; 95% confidence interval (CI): 97-99.2; positive likelihood ratio: 28; 95% CI: 9.8-79.4). Combined therapy (ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) plus steroids) achieved biochemical response in 77% of AIH/PBC OS patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Concomitant AMA/anti-dsDNA seropositivity can be considered the serological profile of AIH/PBC OS. The combination of UDCA and steroids is effective in achieving persistent biochemical amelioration in most AIH/PBC OS patients.

Autoantibodies in chronic hepatitis C virus infection and their association with disease profile

Autoantibodies are commonly detected in chronic hepatitis C (HCV) but their significance remains uncertain. We assessed the prevalence of anti-nuclear (ANA) and anti-smooth muscle (ASM) antibodies within a cohort of 963 treatment-naïve HCV patients. We also assessed for differences between autoantibody-positive and autoantibody-negative patients in demographics, markers of disease activity and response to anti-viral treatment. One hundred and seventy-two patients (17.9%) had at least one autoantibody, of which were 104 (10.8%) ASM, 54 (5.6%) ANA and 14 (1.5%) positive for both. Autoantibody-positive patients were older (43 vs 39 years, P = 0.001) caused by an age-related increase in ANA (but not ASM). There were no differences in gender, alcohol intake, ethnicity or viral genotype. The presence of autoantibodies, and specifically ASM, was associated with an increase in interface hepatitis score amongst men (1.1 vs 0.8, P = 0.005) but no difference in other necroinflammatory measures, liver function tests or immunoglobulins (Ig). There was no difference in initial fibrosis stage or rate of fibrosis progression. Autoantibodies did not affect response to anti-viral treatment. We conclude that autoantibodies are frequent in HCV infection. Anti-nuclear antibodies increase with age, whereas ASM antibodies are associated with interface hepatitis in men. Neither autoantibody carries increased risk of fibrosis progression or failure of therapy.

Antinuclear antibody positivity in patients with chronic hepatitis C: clinically relevant or an epiphenomenon?

BACKGROUND

Serum autoantibodies such as antinuclear antibody (ANA) are frequently detected in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, but its relevance is a matter of discussion.

AIM

To assess the association of ANA positivity with clinical and histological features, and with the outcome of antiviral therapy in patients with HCV infection.

METHODS

Baseline samples from patients with hepatitis C treated with interferon and ribavirin were tested for ANA positivity by indirect immunofluorescence.

RESULTS

The mean age was 48.3+/-11.1 years and 56% were men. Among 234 included patients, 22 patients (9.4%) were positive for ANA. These patients showed significantly higher median alanine aminotransferase level (3.52 vs. 2.39 x upper limit of normal, P=0.009) when compared with ANA-negative patients. Fibrosis stage and necroinflammatory grading were not influenced by ANA positivity. Sustained virological response (SVR) rates were similar between ANA-positive and ANA-negative patients (27 vs. 29%, P=0.882). Alanine aminotransferase flares (> or = 1.5-fold the baseline) during treatment were observed in 28 patients (12%), irrespective of the presence of ANA and without any clinical significance.

CONCLUSION

Among HCV patients, ANA positivity seems to represent an immunological epiphenomenon. It neither influences clinical, biochemical, and histological features of chronic hepatitis C nor predicts response to antiviral treatment.

Clinical characteristics of patients with hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver disease seropositive for anticentromere antibody

The association between anticentromere antibody (ACA) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains unclear. We subjected eight patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease (CLD) seropositive for ACA to a battery of clinical and laboratory tests. The patient cohort was dominated by females, and four of the eight (50%) patients had a concomitant autoimmune disease. All of the patients had high titers of ACA (>or=1:320). The histological activity index scores in chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) patients with ACA were significantly higher than those in CH-C patients without antinuclear antibody (ANA) (12.8 +/- 1.8 vs. 8.3 +/- 4.5, P = 0.0372). The frequency of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DR-8 in patients with HCV-related CLD seropositive for ACA was significantly higher than that in patients with CH-C seronegative for ANA (71 vs. 18%, P = 0.0108). These findings suggest that ACA is induced by chronic HCV infection in association with HLA DR-8, and that CH-C patients with ACA exhibit more severe hepatic fibrosis and inflammation than CH-C patients without ANA.

Natural course of chronic HCV and HBV infection and role of alcohol in the general population: the Dionysos Study

BACKGROUND

Population-based studies of the natural course of chronic viral liver disease that consider comorbidity factors are lacking. Using data from the Dionysos Study, we quantified the burden of chronic viral liver disease and the role of alcohol intake to morbidity and mortality in a representative sample of subjects from the general population of two communities of Northern Italy.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

We followed up 139 subjects with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and 61 with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection for a median (IQR) time of 8.4 (1.0) and 8.3 (0.9) yr, respectively. Ethanol intake was evaluated using a food-frequency questionnaire, fatty liver (FL) was diagnosed by ultrasonography, and liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocarcinoma (HCC) were diagnosed by liver biopsy. Exact multivariable Poisson regression was performed to identify predictors of death. The incidence and remission rates of FL were 9.0 and 29.7 in the HCV cohort and 4.0 and 30.4 per 1,000 person-years (PY) in the HBV cohort. Progression to LC and HCC was more common in the HCV than in the HBV cohort (4.5 vs 2.0 and 2.7 vs 2.0 per 1,000 PY, respectively). Ethanol intake was an independent predictor of LC in the HCV cohort [rate ratio (RR) = 4.15 (95% CI 1.02-41.2) for every increase of 30 g/day of ethanol intake at baseline] and of death rate in both cohorts [RR = 8.53 (95% CI 1.40-24.61) and 3.56 (1.34 to 26.50) for every increase of 30 g/day of ethanol intake at baseline].

CONCLUSIONS

The morbidity and mortality rate of HBV and HCV infection in the general population is lower than that reported in secondary-care populations, blood donors, or clinical series. Ethanol intake is an independent predictor of LC in subjects with chronic HCV infection and an independent predictor of death in subjects with either HCV or HBV infection.

The revised international autoimmune hepatitis score in chronic liver diseases including autoimmune hepatitis/overlap syndromes and autoimmune hepatitis with concurrent other liver disorders

BACKGROUND

We conducted a study in order to determine the usefulness and diagnostic value of International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group (IAHG) score in non-autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) hepatic disorders as well as in AIH/overlap syndromes and in cases with coexistence of AIH and other liver diseases.

METHODS

We applied the IAHG score in 423 patients with liver diseases excluding patients with AIH, AIH/overlap syndromes and AIH with concurrent other liver disease namely, patients with chronic hepatitis B (n = 109), chronic hepatitis C (n = 95), chronic hepatitis D (n = 4), alchoholic liver disease (n = 28), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (n = 55), autoimmune cholestatic liver diseases (n = 77), liver disorders of undefined origin (n = 32) and with miscellaneous hepatic disorders (n = 23). 24 patients with AIH associated with any kind of liver disorder including 10 patients with AIH/overlap syndromes and 14 AIH with concurrent other liver disease were also investigated. 43 patients with AIH consisted the control group.

RESULTS

The specificity of the score was 98.1% while the sensitivity in unmasking AIH in patients with either AIH/overlap syndromes or AIH with concurrent other liver diseases was only 50% and 78.6%. In the binary logistic regression model, the presence of other autoimmune diseases (p < 0.001), the total histological score (p < 0.001) and positivity for autoantibodies (p < 0.05) were identified as independent predictors for the presnce of AIH/ovea syndromes o AI with concurren other liver diseass.

CONCLUSION

The IAHG scoring system has very good specificity for excluding AIH in patients with chronic liver diseases but not that sensitivity in order to unmask AIH/overlap syndromes or AIH with concurrent other liver diseases. The presence of other autoimmune diseases or autoantibody markers in the absence of hepatitis viral markers should alarm physicians for the possible presence of AIH either as "pure" AIH or in association with other liver disorders (AIH/overlap syndromes or AIH with concurrent other liver diseases). Under these conditions, liver histology seems essential and it must always be included in the work up of hepatic patients.

Clinical significance of organ- and non-organ-specific autoantibodies on the response to anti-viral treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C

BACKGROUND

Development of organ- and non-organ-specific autoantibodies has been reported in hepatitis C virus patients treated with interferon-alpha plus/minus ribavirin.

AIMS

To address whether prevalence and the titre of gastric parietal autoantibodies and non-organ-specific autoantibody in hepatitis C virus-treated patients were affected by therapy, and if the development of these antibodies carries any clinical significance on the response to treatment, as few studies in adults have been strictly designed to address the above hypothesis.

METHODS

Samples at three time-points (baseline, end of treatment, end of follow-up) from 102 hepatitis C virus patients (39 sustained responders, 26 relapsers, 33 non-responders; four lost in follow-up) were studied for gastric parietal autoantibodies and/or non-organ-specific autoantibody by indirect immunofluorescence, commercial and in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

RESULTS

Sustained virological and biochemical response was associated with antinuclear antibody absence (end of treatment or end of follow-up), decrease of smooth-muscle antibody titres during therapy and gastric parietal autoantibodies negativity at baseline. However, after multivariate analysis only antinuclear antibody positivity at the end of treatment and increase of smooth-muscle antibody titres were associated with worst treatment response, independently of known factors of worst treatment outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

We were able to demonstrate a negative correlation between the efficacy of anti-viral treatment for hepatitis C virus and the presence of antinuclear antibody and smooth-muscle antibody before treatment, or their increase during therapy.

[Update in Hepatitis C virus associated extrahepatic manifestations]

INTRODUCTION

Since the discovery of the hepatitis C virus, many manifestations, so called extra-hepatic manifestations (EHM), are largely reported with more or less relationship proofs.

ACTUALITIES AND MAIN POINTS

This article proposes a review of the main extra-hepatic manifestations associated with the Hepatis C Virus infection and which remain a topical subject, more than fifteen years after the discovery of this virus. Mixed cryoglobulin and its vasculitic manifestations are still one of the more frequent Hepatis C Virus associated-extra-hepatic manifestations. Its management may be critically changed due to the increasing use of anti-CD20 therapy. Among other HCV-EHM, the following extra-hepatic manifestations are still of interest: the chronic fatigue syndrome, the sicca syndrome, the non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, malignant B cell proliferations, mainly the Hepatis C Virus-related splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes and the production of auto-antibodies.

PERSPECTIVES AND PROJECTS

The mechanisms underlying these HCV-associated EHM are ill-elucidated and still remain of great interest as proved by current studies. The use of anti-CD20 antibodies in the treatment of cryoglobulinemic vasculitis is also under investigation.

Immunoglobulin GM and KM allotypes and prevalence of anti-LKM1 autoantibodies in patients with hepatitis C virus infection

GM and KM allotypes-genetic markers of immunoglobulin (Ig) gamma and kappa chains, respectively-are associated with humoral immunity to several infection- and autoimmunity-related epitopes. We hypothesized that GM and KM allotypes contribute to the generation of autoantibodies to liver/kidney microsomal antigen 1 (LKM1) in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected persons. To test this hypothesis, we characterized 129 persons with persistent HCV infection for several GM and KM markers and for anti-LKM1 antibodies. The heterozygous GM 1,3,17 23 5,13,21 phenotype was significantly associated with the prevalence of anti-LKM1 antibodies (odds ratio, 5.13; P=0.002), suggesting its involvement in this autoimmune phenomenon in HCV infection.

Hepatic steatosis in chronic hepatitis C: impact on response to anti-viral treatment with peg-interferon and ribavirin

BACKGROUND

There is increasing evidence that hepatic steatosis contributes to the progression of liver fibrosis, whereas its impact on the efficacy of anti-viral treatment is still under investigation.

AIM

To evaluate the effect of steatosis on the outcome of combined anti-viral treatment.

METHODS

We studied 102 consecutive naive patients with chronic hepatitis C receiving combined anti-viral therapy (peg-interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin).

RESULTS

Fifty (49%) of 102 patients had evidence of hepatic steatosis (29 grade 1, 16 grade 2 and 5 grade 3). Sustained virological response was similar in patients with and without steatosis (58% vs. 56%); moreover, the grade of steatosis did not affect the rate of sustained virological response (grade 1: 58%, grade 2: 56% and grade 3: 60%). Patients with steatosis had significantly higher serum levels of aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and gamma-glutamyltransferase (P = 0.007, 0.004 and 0.03, respectively), higher histological activity (P = 0.03), more advanced stage of fibrosis (P = 0.0394) and more often hepatitis C virus genotype 3 (P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that hepatic steatosis in chronic hepatitis C, irrespective of its grade, is not a negative prognostic factor of response to combined anti-viral therapy, even when the histological and biochemical profile of the disease is more aggressive.

LKM1 autoantibodies in chronic hepatitis C infection: a case of molecular mimicry?

Anti-liver-kidney microsome type 1 (LKM1) autoantibodies directed against the cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) are considered specific markers of type 2 autoimmune hepatitis, but are also found in 5% of sera from patients chronically infected by hepatitis C virus (HCV). Molecular mimicry between HCV proteins and CYP2D6 has been proposed to explain the emergence of these autoantibodies. Anti-LKM1 autoantibodies from hepatitis C-infected patients were affinity-purified against immobilized CYP2D6 protein and used to screen a phage display library. CYP2D6 conformational epitopes were identified using phage display analysis and the identification of statistically significant pairs (SSPs). Cross-reactivity between CYP2D6 and HCV protein candidates was tested by immunoprecipitation. Nineteen different clones were isolated, and their sequencing resulted in the mapping of a conformational epitope to the region of amino acids 254-288 of CYP2D6. Candidate HCV proteins for molecular mimicry included: core, E2, NS3 and NS5a. Affinity-purified autoantibodies from HCV+/LKM1+ patients immunoprecipitated either NS3, NS5a, or both, and these reactivities were specifically inhibited by immobilized CYP2D6. In conclusion, HCV+/LKM1+ sera recognize a specific conformational epitope on CYP2D6 between amino acids 254 to 288, the region that contains the major linear epitope in type 2 autoimmune hepatitis patients. Cross-reactivity due to molecular mimicry at the B-cell level was shown between the CYP2D6 and the HCV NS3 and NS5a proteins and could explain the presence of anti-LKM1 in patients chronically infected with HCV. Further investigation of the role played by this molecular mimicry in HCV-infected patients may lead to more specific strategies for diagnosis and treatment.