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Wu X, Roberto JB, Knupp A, Greninger AL, Truong CD, Hollingshead N, Kenerson HL, Tuefferd M, Chen A, Koelle DM, Horton H, Jerome KR, Polyak SJ, Yeung RS, Crispe IN. Response of Human Liver Tissue to Innate Immune Stimuli. Front Immunol 2022; 13:811551. [PMID: 35355993 PMCID: PMC8959492 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.811551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Precision-cut human liver slice cultures (PCLS) have become an important alternative immunological platform in preclinical testing. To further evaluate the capacity of PCLS, we investigated the innate immune response to TLR3 agonist (poly-I:C) and TLR4 agonist (LPS) using normal and diseased liver tissue. Pathological liver tissue was obtained from patients with active chronic HCV infection, and patients with former chronic HCV infection cured by recent Direct-Acting Antiviral (DAA) drug therapy. We found that hepatic innate immunity in response to TLR3 and TLR4 agonists was not suppressed but enhanced in the HCV-infected tissue, compared with the healthy controls. Furthermore, despite recent HCV elimination, DAA-cured liver tissue manifested ongoing abnormalities in liver immunity: sustained abnormal immune gene expression in DAA-cured samples was identified in direct ex vivo measurements and in TLR3 and TLR4 stimulation assays. Genes that were up-regulated in chronic HCV-infected liver tissue were mostly characteristic of the non-parenchymal cell compartment. These results demonstrated the utility of PCLS in studying both liver pathology and innate immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Jessica B Roberto
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Allison Knupp
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Alexander L Greninger
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Camtu D Truong
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Nicole Hollingshead
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Heidi L Kenerson
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Marianne Tuefferd
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccines, Janssen Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Antony Chen
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccines, Janssen Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium
| | - David M Koelle
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Translational Research, Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Helen Horton
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccines, Janssen Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Keith R Jerome
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Stephen J Polyak
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Raymond S Yeung
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Ian N Crispe
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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Kronfli N, Young J, Wang S, Cox J, Walmsley S, Hull M, Cooper C, Martel-Laferriere V, Wong A, Pick N, Klein MB. Liver Fibrosis in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Coinfection Before and After Sustained Virologic Response: What Is the Best Noninvasive Marker for Monitoring Regression? Clin Infect Dis 2021; 73:468-477. [PMID: 32504083 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Noninvasive markers of liver fibrosis such as aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio (APRI) and transient elastography (TE) have largely replaced liver biopsy for staging hepatitis C virus (HCV). As there is little longitudinal data, we compared changes in these markers before and after sustained virologic response (SVR) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-HCV coinfected patients. METHODS Participants from the Canadian Coinfection Cohort study who achieved SVR after a first treatment with either interferon/ribavirin or direct acting antivirals (DAAs), with at least 1 pre- and posttreatment fibrosis measure were selected. Changes in APRI or TE (DAA era only) were modeled using a generalized additive mixed model, assuming a gamma distribution and adjusting for sex, age at HCV acquisition, duration of HCV infection, and time-dependent body mass index, binge drinking, and detectable HIV RNA. RESULTS Of 1981 patients, 151 achieved SVR with interferon and 553 with DAAs; 94 and 382 met inclusion criteria, respectively. In the DAA era, APRI increased (0.03 units/year; 95% credible interval (CrI): -.05, .12) before, declined dramatically during, and then changed minimally (-0.03 units/year; 95% CrI: -.06, .01) after treatment. TE values, however, increased (0.74 kPa/year; 95% CrI: .36, 1.14) before treatment, changed little by the end of treatment, and then declined (-0.55 kPa/year; 95% CrI: -.80, -.31) after SVR. CONCLUSIONS TE should be the preferred noninvasive tool for monitoring fibrosis regression following cure. Future studies should assess the risk of liver-related outcomes such as hepatocellular carcinoma according to trajectories of fibrosis regression measured using TE to determine if and when it will become safe to discontinue screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Kronfli
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Chronic Viral Illness Service, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jim Young
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Chronic Viral Illness Service, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Shouao Wang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Chronic Viral Illness Service, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Joseph Cox
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Chronic Viral Illness Service, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Sharon Walmsley
- University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,CIHR Canadian HIV Trials Network, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Mark Hull
- BC Centre of Excellence, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
| | | | - Valerie Martel-Laferriere
- Departement de Microbiologie et Infectiologie, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | | | - Neora Pick
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Marina B Klein
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Chronic Viral Illness Service, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,CIHR Canadian HIV Trials Network, Vancouver, Canada
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3
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Selicean S, Wang C, Guixé-Muntet S, Stefanescu H, Kawada N, Gracia-Sancho J. Regression of portal hypertension: underlying mechanisms and therapeutic strategies. Hepatol Int 2021; 15:36-50. [PMID: 33544313 PMCID: PMC7886770 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-021-10135-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Portal hypertension is the main non-neoplastic complication of chronic liver disease, being the cause of important life-threatening events including the development of ascites or variceal bleeding. The primary factor in the development of portal hypertension is a pathological increase in the intrahepatic vascular resistance, due to liver microcirculatory dysfunction, which is subsequently aggravated by extra-hepatic vascular disturbances including elevation of portal blood inflow. Evidence from pre-clinical models of cirrhosis has demonstrated that portal hypertension and chronic liver disease can be reversible if the injurious etiological agent is removed and can be further promoted using pharmacological therapy. These important observations have been partially demonstrated in clinical studies. This paper aims at providing an updated review of the currently available data regarding spontaneous and drug-promoted regression of portal hypertension, paying special attention to the clinical evidence. It also considers pathophysiological caveats that highlight the need for caution in establishing a new dogma that human chronic liver disease and portal hypertension is reversible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Selicean
- Hepatology, Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Inselspital, Murtenstrasse 35, Maurice E. Müller-Haus, F821a, 3008, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Cong Wang
- Hepatology, Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Inselspital, Murtenstrasse 35, Maurice E. Müller-Haus, F821a, 3008, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sergi Guixé-Muntet
- Hepatology, Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Inselspital, Murtenstrasse 35, Maurice E. Müller-Haus, F821a, 3008, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Horia Stefanescu
- Department of Hepatology, Prof. Dr. Octavian Fodor Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Liver Research Club, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Norifumi Kawada
- Department of Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Jordi Gracia-Sancho
- Hepatology, Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Inselspital, Murtenstrasse 35, Maurice E. Müller-Haus, F821a, 3008, Bern, Switzerland.
- Liver Vascular Biology Research Group, IDIBAPS Research Institute, CIBEREHD, Barcelona, Spain.
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Chen W, Yang A, Jia J, Popov YV, Schuppan D, You H. Lysyl Oxidase (LOX) Family Members: Rationale and Their Potential as Therapeutic Targets for Liver Fibrosis. Hepatology 2020; 72:729-741. [PMID: 32176358 DOI: 10.1002/hep.31236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2019] [Revised: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The cross-linking of structural extracellular matrix (ECM) components, especially fibrillar collagens and elastin, is strongly implicated in fibrosis progression and resistance to fibrosis reversal. Lysyl oxidase family members (LOX and LOXL1 [lysyl oxidase-like 1], LOXL2 [lysyl oxidase-like 2], LOXL3 [lysyl oxidase-like 3], and LOXL4 [lysyl oxidase like 4]) are extracellular copper-dependent enzymes that play a key role in ECM cross-linking, but have also other intracellular functions relevant to fibrosis and carcinogenesis. Although the expression of most LOX family members is elevated in experimental liver fibrosis of diverse etiologies, their individual contribution to fibrosis is incompletely understood. Inhibition of the LOX family as a whole and of LOX, LOXL1, and LOXL2 specifically has been shown to suppress fibrosis progression and accelerate its reversal in rodent models of cardiac, renal, pulmonary, and liver fibrosis. Recent disappointing clinical trials with a monoclonal antibody against LOXL2 (simtuzumab) in patients with pulmonary and liver fibrosis dampened enthusiasm for LOX family member inhibition. However, this unexpected negative outcome may be related to the inefficient antibody, rather than to LOXL2, not qualifying as a relevant antifibrotic target. Moreover, LOX family members other than LOXL2 may prove to be attractive therapeutic targets. In this review, we summarize the structural hallmarks, expression patterns, covalent cross-linking activities, and modes of regulation of LOX family members and discuss the clinical potential of their inhibition to treat fibrosis in general and liver fibrosis in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Chen
- Experimental and Translational Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Tolerance Induction and Organ Protection in Transplantation, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Aiting Yang
- Experimental and Translational Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Tolerance Induction and Organ Protection in Transplantation, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jidong Jia
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yury V Popov
- Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Detlef Schuppan
- Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.,Institute of Translational Immunology and Research, Center for Immunotherapy, University of Mainz Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | - Hong You
- Experimental and Translational Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Tolerance Induction and Organ Protection in Transplantation, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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5
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Vranjkovic A, Deonarine F, Kaka S, Angel JB, Cooper CL, Crawley AM. Direct-Acting Antiviral Treatment of HCV Infection Does Not Resolve the Dysfunction of Circulating CD8 + T-Cells in Advanced Liver Disease. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1926. [PMID: 31456810 PMCID: PMC6700371 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection disrupts immune functions, including that of cytotoxic CD8+ T-cells which are important mediators of immune response. While HCV cure aims to eliminate long term sequelae of infection, whether direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment results in immune reconstitution remains unclear. We and others have reported generalized CD8+ T-cell dysfunction in chronic HCV infection and our research suggests that the degree of liver damage is a factor in this process. Our recent research indicates that liver fibrosis is not readily reversed after DAA-mediated clearance of chronic HCV infection. We therefore examined the function of circulating CD8+ T-cell subsets in chronic HCV infection in the context of liver fibrosis severity, determined by ultrasound elastography and Metavir F-score system. We observed progressive shifts in CD8+ T-cell subset distribution in HCV-infected individuals with advanced liver fibrosis (F4) compared to minimal fibrosis (F0-1) or uninfected controls, and this remained unchanged after viral cure. Impaired CD8+ T-cell function was observed as a reduced proportion of CD107+ and perforin+ late effector memory cells in HCV+(F4) and HCV+(F0-1) individuals, respectively. In HCV+(F4) individuals, nearly all CD8+ T-cell subsets had an elevated proportion of perforin+ cells while naïve cells had increased proportions of IFN-γ+ and CD107+ cells. These exaggerated CD8+ T-cell activities were not resolved when evaluated 24 weeks after completion of DAA therapy and HCV clearance. This was further supported by sustained, high levels of cell proliferation and cytolytic activity. Furthermore, DAA therapy had no effect on elevated concentrations of systemic inflammatory cytokines and decreased levels of inhibitory TGF-β in the plasma of HCV+(F4) individuals, suggesting HCV infection and advanced liver disease result in a long-lasting immune activating microenvironment. These data demonstrate that in chronic HCV infection, liver fibrosis severity is associated with generalized hyperfunctional CD8+ T-cells, particularly with perforin production and cytotoxicity, and this persists after viral clearance. Whether DAA therapy will eliminate other related long-term sequelae in HCV+(F4) individuals remains an important research question.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agatha Vranjkovic
- Chronic Disease Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Felicia Deonarine
- Chronic Disease Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Shaima Kaka
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Jonathan B Angel
- Chronic Disease Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Division of Infectious Diseases, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Curtis L Cooper
- Division of Infectious Diseases, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Angela M Crawley
- Chronic Disease Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Division of Infectious Diseases, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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6
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Chen W, Yan X, Xu A, Sun Y, Wang B, Huang T, Wang H, Cong M, Wang P, Yang A, Jia J, You H. Dynamics of elastin in liver fibrosis: Accumulates late during progression and degrades slowly in regression. J Cell Physiol 2019; 234:22613-22622. [PMID: 31102291 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.28827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2018] [Revised: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Elastin is an amorphous protein highly resistant to elastase degradation and is believed to be the most stable component among the extracellular matrix (ECM) members. Thus the excessive deposition of elastin in advanced liver fibrosis may contribute to the declining reversibility of the disease. Our previous study has found that elastin crosslinking inhibition can effectively arrest liver fibrosis progression. To further understand the roles of elastin involved in liver fibrosis, we systematically investigated the expression, accumulation, and degradation based on dynamic and bidirectional CCl4 -induced liver fibrosis mouse models and visualized the ultrastructure of elastin globules in cultured LX-2 cells. We found that the expression pattern of tropoelastin (soluble elastin) and collagen I was not completely comparable at both the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels during liver fibrosis progression and regression. Elastin mainly accumulated onto the internodular fibrous septa and enlarged portal areas and intertwined with collagen I at the late stage of liver fibrosis. Three-dimensional analysis of elastin and collagen I by confocal immunofluorescence coupled with biochemical analyses revealed that with respect to collagen, elastin deposition was characterized by late aggregation in progression and slow turnover in regression. In addition, we visualized the dynamic ultrastructure of ECM fibers during liver fibrogenesis and fibrolysis and the ultrastructure of elastin globules self-aggregated by tropoelastin crosslinking. Our current study established new general hallmarks of elastin levels and forms in progressive and regressive liver fibrosis and provided a foundation for further experimental investigation of the growing role of elastin in liver fibrosis regression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Chen
- Experimental and Translational Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Tolerance Induction and Organ Protection in Transplantation, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuzhen Yan
- Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Anjian Xu
- Experimental and Translational Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Tolerance Induction and Organ Protection in Transplantation, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yameng Sun
- Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Bingqiong Wang
- Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Huang
- Experimental and Translational Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Tolerance Induction and Organ Protection in Transplantation, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Huan Wang
- Experimental and Translational Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Tolerance Induction and Organ Protection in Transplantation, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Min Cong
- Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ping Wang
- Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Aiting Yang
- Experimental and Translational Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Tolerance Induction and Organ Protection in Transplantation, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jidong Jia
- Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hong You
- Experimental and Translational Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Tolerance Induction and Organ Protection in Transplantation, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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7
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Shan S, Chen W, Jia JD. Transcriptome Analysis Revealed a Highly Connected Gene Module Associated With Cirrhosis to Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development. Front Genet 2019; 10:305. [PMID: 31001331 PMCID: PMC6454075 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cirrhosis is one of the most important risk factors for development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recent studies have shown that removal or well control of the underlying cause could reduce but not eliminate the risk of HCC. Therefore, it is important to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that drive the progression of cirrhosis to HCC. Materials and Methods Microarray datasets incorporating cirrhosis and HCC subjects were identified from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were determined by GEO2R software. Functional enrichment analysis was performed by the clusterProfiler package in R. Liver carcinogenesis-related networks and modules were established using STRING database and MCODE plug-in, respectively, which were visualized with Cytoscape software. The ability of modular gene signatures to discriminate cirrhosis from HCC was assessed by hierarchical clustering, principal component analysis (PCA), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Association of top modular genes and HCC grades or prognosis was analyzed with the UALCAN web-tool. Protein expression and distribution of top modular genes were analyzed using the Human Protein Atlas database. Results Four microarray datasets were retrieved from GEO database. Compared with cirrhotic livers, 125 upregulated and 252 downregulated genes in HCC tissues were found. These DEGs constituted a liver carcinogenesis-related network with 272 nodes and 2954 edges, with 65 nodes being highly connected and formed a liver carcinogenesis-related module. The modular genes were significantly involved in several KEGG pathways, such as “cell cycle,” “DNA replication,” “p53 signaling pathway,” “mismatch repair,” “base excision repair,” etc. These identified modular gene signatures could robustly discriminate cirrhosis from HCC in the validation dataset. In contrast, the expression pattern of the modular genes was consistent between cirrhotic and normal livers. The top modular genes TOP2A, CDC20, PRC1, CCNB2, and NUSAP1 were associated with HCC onset, progression, and prognosis, and exhibited higher expression in HCC compared with normal livers in the HPA database. Conclusion Our study revealed a highly connected module associated with liver carcinogenesis on a cirrhotic background, which may provide deeper understanding of the genetic alterations involved in the transition from cirrhosis to HCC, and offer valuable variables for screening and surveillance of HCC in high-risk patients with cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Shan
- Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Liver Cirrhosis, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Disease, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Experimental and Translational Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Tolerance Induction and Organ Protection in Transplantation, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ji-Dong Jia
- Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Liver Cirrhosis, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Disease, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Whether continued, accelerated liver fibrosis progression occurs following acute hepatitis C virus infection (AHCVI) in HIV-positive MSM is unknown. DESIGN AND METHODS HIV-positive MSM from the AIDS Therapy Evaluation in the Netherlands and MSM Observational Study for Acute Infection with Hepatitis C-cohorts with primary AHCVI and at least one fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) measurement less than 2 years before and 1 year after estimated AHCVI were included. Mixed-effect linear models were used to evaluate (time-updated) determinants of FIB-4 levels over time. Determinants of transitioning to and from FIB-4 ≤ 1.45 and > 1.45 were examined using multistate Markov models. RESULTS Of 313 MSM, median FIB-4 measurements per individual was 12 (interquartile range = 8-18) and median follow-up following AHCVI was 3.5 years (interquartile range = 1.9-5.6). FIB-4 measurements averaged at 1.00 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.95-1.05] before AHCVI, 1.31 (95% CI = 1.25-1.38) during the first year of AHCVI and 1.10 (95% CI = 1.05-1.15) more than 1 year after AHCVI. Mean FIB-4 more than 1 year after AHCVI was higher for chronically infected patients compared with those successfully treated (P = 0.007). Overall FIB-4 scores were significantly higher with older age, lower CD4 cell count, longer duration from HIV-diagnosis or AHCVI, and nonresponse to HCV-treatment. At the end of follow-up, 60 (19.2%) and eight MSM (2.6%) had FIB-4 between 1.45-3.25 and ≥ 3.25, respectively. Older age, lower CD4 cell count and detectable HIV-RNA were significantly associated with higher rates of progression to FIB-4 > 1.45, whereas older age, longer duration from HIV-diagnosis and nonresponse to HCV-treatment were significantly associated with lower rates of regression to FIB-4 ≤ 1.45. CONCLUSION In this population of HIV-positive MSM, FIB-4 scores were higher during the first year of AHCVI, but FIB-4 ≥ 3.25 was uncommon by the end of follow-up. Well controlled HIV-infection appears to attenuate FIB-4 progression.
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Kennedy P, Wagner M, Castéra L, Hong CW, Johnson CL, Sirlin CB, Taouli B. Quantitative Elastography Methods in Liver Disease: Current Evidence and Future Directions. Radiology 2018; 286:738-763. [PMID: 29461949 DOI: 10.1148/radiol.2018170601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Chronic liver diseases often result in the development of liver fibrosis and ultimately, cirrhosis. Treatment strategies and prognosis differ greatly depending on the severity of liver fibrosis, thus liver fibrosis staging is clinically relevant. Traditionally, liver biopsy has been the method of choice for fibrosis evaluation. Because of liver biopsy limitations, noninvasive methods have become a key research interest in the field. Elastography enables the noninvasive measurement of tissue mechanical properties through observation of shear-wave propagation in the tissue of interest. Increasing fibrosis stage is associated with increased liver stiffness, providing a discriminatory feature that can be exploited by elastographic methods. Ultrasonographic (US) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging elastographic methods are commercially available, each with their respective strengths and limitations. Here, the authors review the technical basis, acquisition techniques, and results and limitations of US- and MR-based elastography techniques. Diagnostic performance in the most common etiologies of chronic liver disease will be presented. Reliability, reproducibility, failure rate, and emerging advances will be discussed. © RSNA, 2018 Online supplemental material is available for this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Kennedy
- From the Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute (P.K., B.T.) and Department of Radiology (B.T.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10029; Department of Radiology, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France (M.W.); Department of Hepatology, University Paris-VII, Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy, France (L.C.); Liver Imaging Group, Department of Radiology, University of California-San Diego, San Diego, Calif (C.W.H., C.B.S.); Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Del (C.L.J.)
| | - Mathilde Wagner
- From the Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute (P.K., B.T.) and Department of Radiology (B.T.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10029; Department of Radiology, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France (M.W.); Department of Hepatology, University Paris-VII, Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy, France (L.C.); Liver Imaging Group, Department of Radiology, University of California-San Diego, San Diego, Calif (C.W.H., C.B.S.); Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Del (C.L.J.)
| | - Laurent Castéra
- From the Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute (P.K., B.T.) and Department of Radiology (B.T.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10029; Department of Radiology, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France (M.W.); Department of Hepatology, University Paris-VII, Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy, France (L.C.); Liver Imaging Group, Department of Radiology, University of California-San Diego, San Diego, Calif (C.W.H., C.B.S.); Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Del (C.L.J.)
| | - Cheng William Hong
- From the Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute (P.K., B.T.) and Department of Radiology (B.T.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10029; Department of Radiology, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France (M.W.); Department of Hepatology, University Paris-VII, Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy, France (L.C.); Liver Imaging Group, Department of Radiology, University of California-San Diego, San Diego, Calif (C.W.H., C.B.S.); Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Del (C.L.J.)
| | - Curtis L Johnson
- From the Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute (P.K., B.T.) and Department of Radiology (B.T.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10029; Department of Radiology, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France (M.W.); Department of Hepatology, University Paris-VII, Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy, France (L.C.); Liver Imaging Group, Department of Radiology, University of California-San Diego, San Diego, Calif (C.W.H., C.B.S.); Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Del (C.L.J.)
| | - Claude B Sirlin
- From the Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute (P.K., B.T.) and Department of Radiology (B.T.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10029; Department of Radiology, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France (M.W.); Department of Hepatology, University Paris-VII, Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy, France (L.C.); Liver Imaging Group, Department of Radiology, University of California-San Diego, San Diego, Calif (C.W.H., C.B.S.); Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Del (C.L.J.)
| | - Bachir Taouli
- From the Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute (P.K., B.T.) and Department of Radiology (B.T.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10029; Department of Radiology, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France (M.W.); Department of Hepatology, University Paris-VII, Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy, France (L.C.); Liver Imaging Group, Department of Radiology, University of California-San Diego, San Diego, Calif (C.W.H., C.B.S.); Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Del (C.L.J.)
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10
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Is response to anti-hepatitis C virus treatment predictive of mortality in hepatitis C virus/HIV-positive patients? AIDS 2017; 31:661-668. [PMID: 28005685 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000001378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term clinical outcomes after hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment of HIV/HCV patients are not well described. We aimed to compare the risk of all-cause and liver-related death (LRD) according to HCV treatment response in HIV/HCV patients in the multicohort study Collaboration of Observational HIV Epidemiological Research in Europe. METHODS All patients who had started pegylated interferon + ribavirin (baseline) and followed for at least 72 weeks after baseline were included. Patients were categorized into three response groups depending on treatment duration and HCV-RNA measured in the window 24-72 weeks after baseline. Patients who received at least 24 weeks of therapy were defined as responders if their last HCV-RNA measured between 24 and 72 weeks after baseline was negative, and having 'unknown response' if HCV-RNA was unknown. Nonresponders were treated for less than 24 weeks or were HCV-RNA+ between 24 and 72 weeks after baseline. Mortality rates were compared using survival analysis, and Cox regression was used to compare hazard ratios of death between response groups. RESULTS A total of 3755 patients were included: 1031 (27.5%) responders, 1639 (43.6%) nonresponders and 1085 (28.9%) with unknown response. Rates [per 1000 person-years of follow-up, 95% confidence interval (CI)] of all-cause death were 17.59 (14.88-20.78), 10.43 (7.62-14.28) and 11.00 (8.54-14.23) for nonresponders, responders and unknown responders, respectively. After adjustment, the relative hazard (nonresponders vs. responders) for all-cause death, LRD and nonliver-related death was 1.53 (95% CI 1.06-2.22), 3.39 (95% CI 1.32-8.75) and 1.22 (95% CI 0.80-1.84), respectively. CONCLUSION HIV/HCV patients with a favourable virological response to pegylated interferon + ribavirin had reduced risk of all-cause and LRD, whereas there was no difference in risk of nonliver-related death when comparing responders and nonresponders.
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11
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Unal E, Idilman IS, Karçaaltıncaba M. Multiparametric or practical quantitative liver MRI: towards millisecond, fat fraction, kilopascal and function era. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2017; 11:167-182. [PMID: 27937040 DOI: 10.1080/17474124.2017.1271710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
New advances in liver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may enable diagnosis of unseen pathologies by conventional techniques. Normal T1 (550-620 ms for 1.5 T and 700-850 ms for 3 T), T2, T2* (>20 ms), T1rho (40-50 ms) mapping, proton density fat fraction (PDFF) (≤5%) and stiffness (2-3kPa) values can enable differentiation of a normal liver from chronic liver and diffuse diseases. Gd-EOB-DTPA can enable assessment of liver function by using postcontrast hepatobiliary phase or T1 reduction rate (normally above 60%). T1 mapping can be important for the assessment of fibrosis, amyloidosis and copper overload. T1rho mapping is promising for the assessment of liver collagen deposition. PDFF can allow objective treatment assessment in NAFLD and NASH patients. T2 and T2* are used for iron overload determination. MR fingerprinting may enable single slice acquisition and easy implementation of multiparametric MRI and follow-up of patients. Areas covered: T1, T2, T2*, PDFF and stiffness, diffusion weighted imaging, intravoxel incoherent motion imaging (ADC, D, D* and f values) and function analysis are reviewed. Expert commentary: Multiparametric MRI can enable biopsyless diagnosis and more objective staging of diffuse liver disease, cirrhosis and predisposing diseases. A comprehensive approach is needed to understand and overcome the effects of iron, fat, fibrosis, edema, inflammation and copper on MR relaxometry values in diffuse liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Unal
- a Liver Imaging Team, Department of Radiology , Hacettepe University School of Medicine , Ankara , Turkey.,b Department of Radiology , Zonguldak Ataturk State Hospital , Zonguldak , Turkey
| | - Ilkay Sedakat Idilman
- a Liver Imaging Team, Department of Radiology , Hacettepe University School of Medicine , Ankara , Turkey.,c Department of Radiology , Ankara Ataturk Education and Research Hospital , Ankara , Turkey
| | - Muşturay Karçaaltıncaba
- a Liver Imaging Team, Department of Radiology , Hacettepe University School of Medicine , Ankara , Turkey
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12
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Moser S, Gutic E, Schleicher M, Gschwantler M. Early decrease of liver stiffness after initiation of antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Dig Liver Dis 2016; 48:970-1. [PMID: 27260330 DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2016.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Moser
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria
| | - Enisa Gutic
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria
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13
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Modelling the impact of deferring HCV treatment on liver-related complications in HIV coinfected men who have sex with men. J Hepatol 2016; 65:26-32. [PMID: 26921687 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2016.02.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2015] [Revised: 02/09/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatitis C (HCV) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in people who live with HIV. In many countries, access to direct acting antiviral agents to treat HCV is restricted to individuals with advanced liver disease (METAVIR stage F3 or F4). Our goal was to estimate the long term impact of deferring HCV treatment for men who have sex with men (MSM) who are coinfected with HIV and often have multiple risk factors for liver disease progression. METHODS We developed an individual-based model of liver disease progression in HIV/HCV coinfected MSM. We estimated liver-related morbidity and mortality as well as the median time spent with replicating HCV infection when individuals were treated in liver fibrosis stages F0, F1, F2, F3 or F4 on the METAVIR scale. RESULTS The percentage of individuals who died of liver-related complications was 2% if treatment was initiated in F0 or F1. It increased to 3% if treatment was deferred until F2, 7% if it was deferred until F3 and 22% if deferred until F4. The median time individuals spent with replicating HCV increased from 5years if treatment was initiated in F2 to almost 15years if it was deferred until F4. CONCLUSIONS Deferring HCV therapy until advanced liver fibrosis is established could increase liver-related morbidity and mortality in HIV/HCV coinfected individuals, and substantially prolong the time individuals spend with a replicating HCV infection.
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14
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Saracino A, Bruno G, Scudeller L, Ladisa N, de Gennaro N, Allegrini M, Monno L, Angarano G. CD4 and CD4/CD8 ratio progression in HIV-HCV infected patients after achievement of SVR. J Clin Virol 2016; 81:94-9. [PMID: 27371888 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2016.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2016] [Revised: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 05/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In HIV-HCV co-infected patients, the long-term effects of HCV eradication on HIV disease progression are still unclear. OBJECTIVES This study aims to determine if CD4 and CD4/CD8 ratio slopes improved after anti-HCV treatment in patients achieving a sustained virological response (SVR). STUDY DESIGN A total of 116 HIV-HCV co-infected patients, previously treated with Peg-IFN/RBV, were divided into two groups: SVR (55 patients who had achieved SVR), and non-SVR (61 patients). Retrospective data before and after anti-HCV therapy were obtained for all patients, with a median 8 year-follow-up. Multilevel mixed models were fitted to assess the trends over time of FIB-4 score, APRI score, CD4, CD8 cell count and CD4/CD8 ratio. RESULTS Median HIV-infection duration, HCV-RNA and GGT baseline levels were higher in non-SVR compared to the SVR group. A significantly decreased FIB-4 (p<0.001) and APRI trend (p<0.001) after SVR was observed in SVR patients compared to those non-SVR. After adjustment for HIV duration, there was no significant difference between the two groups for absolute CD4 (p=0.08) or percentage CD4 slope (p=0.6) over time. The CD4/CD8 ratio trend also demonstrated a similar progressive increase in both groups (p=0.2). During follow-up, six deaths were reported in the non-SVR group versus no death for the SVR group, while no difference in AIDS and non-AIDS events was observed. CONCLUSIONS Achievement of SVR determines an important beneficial impact in terms of liver-related mortality and fibrosis regression, but does not seem to alter neither the slope of long term CD4 gain nor the CD4/CD8 ratio evolution in ART-treated HIV-HCV co-infected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Saracino
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Italy.
| | - G Bruno
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Italy
| | - L Scudeller
- Scientific Direction, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, IRCCS San Matteo Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - N Ladisa
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Italy
| | - N de Gennaro
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Italy
| | - M Allegrini
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Italy
| | - L Monno
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Italy
| | - G Angarano
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Italy
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15
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Stasi C, Milani S. Non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis: Between prediction/prevention of outcomes and cost-effectiveness. World J Gastroenterol 2016; 22:1711-1720. [PMID: 26819535 PMCID: PMC4722001 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i4.1711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2015] [Revised: 09/26/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The assessment of the fibrotic evolution of chronic hepatitis has always been a challenge for the clinical hepatologist. Over the past decade, various non-invasive methods have been proposed to detect the presence of fibrosis, including the elastometric measure of stiffness, panels of clinical and biochemical parameters, and combinations of both methods. The aim of this review is to analyse the most recent data on non-invasive techniques for the evaluation of hepatic fibrosis with particular attention to cost-effectiveness. We searched for relevant studies published in English using the PubMed database from 2009 to the present. A large number of studies have suggested that elastography and serum markers are useful techniques for diagnosing severe fibrosis and cirrhosis and for excluding significant fibrosis in hepatitis C virus patients. In addition, hepatic stiffness may also help to prognosticate treatment response to antiviral therapy. It has also been shown that magnetic resonance elastography has a high accuracy for staging and differentiating liver fibrosis. Finally, studies have shown that non-invasive methods are becoming increasingly precise in either positively identifying or excluding liver fibrosis, thus reducing the need for liver biopsy. However, both serum markers and transient elastography still have “grey area” values of lower accuracy. In this case, liver biopsy is still required to properly assess liver fibrosis. Recently, the guidelines produced by the World Health Organization have suggested that the AST-to-platelet ratio index or FIB-4 test could be utilised for the evaluation of liver fibrosis rather than other, more expensive non-invasive tests, such as elastography or FibroTest.
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Abstract
Noninvasive methods are increasingly used for the assessment of liver fibrosis. Two categories of markers include serum-based markers (biologic properties) or ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging-based techniques that use the principles of elastography (physical properties) to indirectly assess liver fibrosis. Serum markers can be either direct or indirect markers of the fibrosis process. Common elastography-based studies include vibration-controlled transient elastography, point shear wave elastography, and 2-dimensional shear wave elastography and magnetic resonance elastography. A common theme among all techniques is the inability to accurately differentiate between minimal or moderate stages of fibrosis but superior performance in identifying subjects with cirrhosis or normal liver parenchyma. Noninvasive markers may also serve as prognostic tools to course the natural history of chronic liver disease as well as identify cirrhotic patients at highest risk of future decompensation. Further research is needed to identify the role of noninvasive markers in following asymptomatic individuals, especially in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
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Fibrosis Regression Explains Differences in Outcome in HIV-/HCV-Coinfected Patients with Cirrhosis After Sustained Virological Response. Dig Dis Sci 2015; 60:3473-81. [PMID: 26112991 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-015-3773-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 06/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Fibrosis regression (FR) after sustained virological response (SVR) should produce a better outcome in hepatitis C (HCV)-/HIV-coinfected patients with liver cirrhosis, but there are no specific data in this issue. METHODS We compared the incidence rate (IR) and the time to develop a liver complication and death in 133 cirrhotic patients according to SVR or/and FR. RESULTS Of 42 patients with SVR, 23 (55%) had FR, in comparison with only 14 of the 91 (15%) without SVR. During a follow-up of 6.8 years (916.8 person-years), the IR of death, liver-related death, and liver-related complications were 2.45, 0.61, and 1.22 per 100 persons/year among SVR/FR, and 7.6, 5.9, and 6.81 among non-SVR without FR (p < 0.01), respectively. SVR patients without FR had also a lower rate of liver-related complications (1.78 vs 3.25; p = 0.02), but a worse IR of death (5.36) and liver-related death (2.68) than non-SVR patients with FR (1.3, and 0.65; p < 0.01). Moreover, FR was associated with less hospital admissions and decreasing alpha-fetoprotein levels. In Cox analysis, only FR was associated with a lower risk of death (adjusted hazard ratio, HR 0.36; 95% CI 0.15-0.86), and liver-related death (HR 0.15; 95% CI 0.03-0.65), whereas both FR (HR 0.09; 95% CI 0.03-0.3, p < 0.01) and SVR (HR 0.24; 95% CI 0.07-0.87) decreased the risk of liver-related complications. CONCLUSION Fibrosis regression after SVR is associated with the highest reduction in death of any cause, liver-related mortality, and liver-related complications in HIV-/HCV-coinfected patients with cirrhosis.
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18
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Haseltine EL, Penney MS, George S, Kieffer TL. Successful treatment with telaprevir-based regimens for chronic hepatitis C results in significant improvements to serum markers of liver fibrosis. J Viral Hepat 2015; 22:701-7. [PMID: 25582683 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.12382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2014] [Accepted: 12/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) have differing levels of liver health when they initiate treatment. We sought to quantify whether liver health improves following successful treatment with telaprevir-based antiviral regimens. We performed a retrospective analysis of data generated from one Phase 2 and two Phase 3 telaprevir clinical studies. 1208 patients treated with a telaprevir-based regimen were included in the analysis. Patients were grouped according to their baseline Metavir score (F0-F1, F2 and F3-F4) and whether or not they attained sustained virologic response (SVR). Scores from four biomarker tests, FibroTest, APRI, FIB-4 and Forns' Score, were monitored both before and after HCV treatment. All four of these tests differentiated the fibrosis stage as determined by Metavir score at baseline. Consistent with previous studies, patients who attained SVR exhibited significant improvements in scores from each of these tests after treatment. These improvements remained significant even when patients were grouped according to their baseline Metavir score. On average, the scores from different tests exhibited differential improvements following SVR. Improvements in APRI scores corresponded to complete fibrosis regression (i.e. a Metavir stage of F0-F1). In contrast, improvements in scores from Forns' Score, FIB-4 and FibroTest were more modest (i.e. fibrosis regression of less than a Metavir stage). Overall, these results demonstrated that attaining SVR with a telaprevir-based regimen led to significant improvements in liver health as determined by four biomarker tests. However, not all correlations observed between noninvasive markers and fibrosis stage at baseline hold after SVR is attained.
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Affiliation(s)
- E L Haseltine
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Boston, MA, USA
| | - M S Penney
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Boston, MA, USA
| | - S George
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Boston, MA, USA
| | - T L Kieffer
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Boston, MA, USA
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Bichoupan K, Dieterich DT. Pegylated-IFNα2a for HIV/hepatitis C virus coinfected patients: out with the old, in with the new. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2015; 14:1369-78. [PMID: 25104426 DOI: 10.1517/14712598.2014.943180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Liver disease is a major burden in patients co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV). From the time of its approval, pegylated-IFNα-2a (pegIFN-α2a) has played a major role in treatment of HCV in HIV/HCV co-infection. AREAS COVERED This article briefly summarizes the epidemiology of HCV/HIV co-infection, the pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic properties of pegIFN-α2a. Results from clinical trials investigating therapies containing pegIFN-α2a for HIV/HCV co-infected patients will be discussed with a focus on efficacy and safety. EXPERT OPINION PegIFN-α2a has improved rates of sustained virologic response for co-infected patients. In combination with direct-acting antivirals (DAA), the disparity between mono- and co-infected patients is beginning to disappear. For the first time, IFN-free regimens are available in clinical practice. It is unlikely that pegIFN-α2a will continue to be a critical component in treatments for HCV in the general co-infected population.
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Karageorgopoulos DE, Allen J, Bhagani S. Hepatitis C in human immunodeficiency virus co-infected individuals: Is this still a "special population"? World J Hepatol 2015; 7:1936-52. [PMID: 26244068 PMCID: PMC4517153 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v7.i15.1936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Revised: 06/24/2015] [Accepted: 07/21/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A substantial proportion of individuals with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) are co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Co-infected individuals are traditionally considered as one of the "special populations" amongst those with chronic HCV, mainly because of faster progression to end-stage liver disease and suboptimal responses to treatment with pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin, the benefits of which are often outweighed by toxicity. The advent of the newer direct acting antivirals (DAAs) has given hope that the majority of co-infected individuals can clear HCV. However the "special population" designation may prove an obstacle for those with co-infection to gain access to the new agents, in terms of requirement for separate pre-licensing clinical trials and extensive drug-drug interaction studies. We review the global epidemiology, natural history and pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C in HIV co-infection. The accelerated course of chronic hepatitis C in HIV co-infection is not adequately offset by successful combination antiretroviral therapy. We also review the treatment trials of chronic hepatitis C in HIV co-infected individuals with DAAs and compare them to trials in the HCV mono-infected. There is convincing evidence that HIV co-infection no longer diminishes the response to treatment against HCV in the new era of DAA-based therapy. The management of HCV co-infection should therefore become a priority in the care of HIV infected individuals, along with public health efforts to prevent new HCV infections, focusing particularly on specific patient groups at risk, such as men who have sex with men and injecting drug users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drosos E Karageorgopoulos
- Drosos E Karageorgopoulos, Joanna Allen, Sanjay Bhagani, Department of Infectious Diseases/HIV Medicine, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London NW3 2QG, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna Allen
- Drosos E Karageorgopoulos, Joanna Allen, Sanjay Bhagani, Department of Infectious Diseases/HIV Medicine, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London NW3 2QG, United Kingdom
| | - Sanjay Bhagani
- Drosos E Karageorgopoulos, Joanna Allen, Sanjay Bhagani, Department of Infectious Diseases/HIV Medicine, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London NW3 2QG, United Kingdom
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Ferraioli G, Filice C, Castera L, Choi BI, Sporea I, Wilson SR, Cosgrove D, Dietrich CF, Amy D, Bamber JC, Barr R, Chou YH, Ding H, Farrokh A, Friedrich-Rust M, Hall TJ, Nakashima K, Nightingale KR, Palmeri ML, Schafer F, Shiina T, Suzuki S, Kudo M. WFUMB guidelines and recommendations for clinical use of ultrasound elastography: Part 3: liver. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2015; 41:1161-79. [PMID: 25800942 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2015.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 442] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (WFUMB) has produced these guidelines for the use of elastography techniques in liver disease. For each available technique, the reproducibility, results, and limitations are analyzed, and recommendations are given. Finally, recommendations based on the international literature and the findings of the WFUMB expert group are established as answers to common questions. The document has a clinical perspective and is aimed at assessing the usefulness of elastography in the management of liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Ferraioli
- Ultrasound Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, School of Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Carlo Filice
- Ultrasound Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, School of Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Laurent Castera
- Service d'Hépatologie, Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, INSERM U 773 CRB3, Université Denis Diderot Paris-VII, Paris, France
| | - Byung Ihn Choi
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ioan Sporea
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara, Romania
| | - Stephanie R Wilson
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Foothills Medical Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - David Cosgrove
- Division of Radiology, Imperial and Kings Colleges, London, UK
| | | | - Dominique Amy
- Breast Center, 21 ave V. Hugo, 13100 Aix-en-Provence, France
| | - Jeffrey C Bamber
- Joint Department of Physics, Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, Surrey, UK
| | - Richard Barr
- Department of Radiology, Northeastern Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio and Radiology Consultants Inc., Youngstown, Ohio, USA
| | - Yi-Hong Chou
- Department of Radiology, Veterans General Hospital and National Yang-Ming University, School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hong Ding
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Andre Farrokh
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Franziskus Hospital, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Mireen Friedrich-Rust
- Department of Internal Medicine 1, J. W. Goethe University Hospital, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Timothy J Hall
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | | | | | - Mark L Palmeri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Fritz Schafer
- Department of Breast Imaging and Interventions, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus, Kiel, Germany
| | - Tsuyoshi Shiina
- Department of Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shinichi Suzuki
- Department of Endocrinology and Surgery, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Kudo
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Japan.
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22
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Kim JH, Kim MN, Han KH, Kim SU. Clinical application of transient elastography in patients with chronic viral hepatitis receiving antiviral treatment. Liver Int 2015; 35:1103-15. [PMID: 24976523 DOI: 10.1111/liv.12628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2014] [Accepted: 06/18/2014] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
Accurate evaluation of the degree of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver diseases (CLD) is crucial, as liver fibrosis is important in determining the prognosis of liver diseases. Currently, liver biopsy (LB) is considered the gold standard for staging liver fibrosis or cirrhosis. However, utilization of LB in clinical practice is often limited because of its invasive nature, sampling error and interobserver variability. Recently, transient elastography (TE) was introduced as a noninvasive, highly reproducible technique for assessing the degree of liver fibrosis. After extensive studies, TE is now regarded as a reliable surrogate marker for grading the severity of liver fibrosis in patients with CLD. In the past few years, the role of TE in monitoring liver stiffness and determining prognosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) or chronic hepatitis C (CHC) who are undergoing antiviral treatment has been investigated. In patients with CHB, liver stiffness values decrease with antiviral treatment. TE can also be used to predict the incidence of liver-related events during antiviral treatment. In patients with CHC, TE can be used to monitor potential regression of liver fibrosis after antiviral treatment and may predict the treatment outcome of CHC. In addition, TE is an adjunct tool for distinguishing inactive hepatitis B virus carriers from patients with chronic active hepatitis. This review article discusses the important findings from recent studies focusing on the clinical application of TE in patients with chronic viral hepatitis who are undergoing antiviral treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Hyung Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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23
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cirrhosis is a major milestone in patients with chronic liver disease because of its impact on patient morbidity and mortality. Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and hepatitis C (CHC) are important causes of cirrhosis. This systematic review examines the relevant literature and evidence to assess whether cirrhosis can be reversible in patients with cirrhosis from viral hepatitis through long viral suppression. METHODS A MEDLINE and Cochrane Library search was conducted to identify all articles pertinent to the subject matter. Fourteen publications were included in the final analysis: 4 hepatitis B studies and 10 hepatitis C studies. Data abstracted from individual studies included patient demographics, antiviral therapy used, length of treatment, liver biopsy scoring system, length of biopsy, and time between biopsies. RESULTS In CHB, the 7 studies reviewed included a total of 463 cirrhotic patients. Regression of cirrhosis was noted in a median of 70% (range, 33% to 80%) of patients. In CHC, the 13 studies reviewed included a total of 58 cirrhotic patients. Regression of cirrhosis was seen in a median of 64% (range, 33% to 100%) of patients with sustained viral response. CONCLUSIONS The results of our review suggest that viral suppression in CHB and sustained virologic response in CHC can be associated with histologic regression of cirrhosis in select patients.
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Sauerbruch T, Trebicka J. Future therapy of portal hypertension in liver cirrhosis - a guess. F1000PRIME REPORTS 2014; 6:95. [PMID: 25374673 PMCID: PMC4191223 DOI: 10.12703/p6-95] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In patients with chronic liver disease, portal hypertension is driven by progressive fibrosis and intrahepatic vasoconstriction. Interruption of the initiating and perpetuating etiology—mostly leading to necroinflammation—is possible for several underlying causes, such as autoimmune hepatitis, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and most recently hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Thus, in the long run, lifestyle-related liver damage due to chronic alcoholism or morbid obesity will remain the main factor leading to portal hypertension. Both causes are probably more easily countered by socioeconomic measures than by individual approaches. If chronic liver injury supporting fibrogenesis and portal hypertension cannot be interrupted, a wide variety of tools are available to modulate and reduce intrahepatic resistance and therewith portal hypertension. Many of these have been evaluated in animal models. Also, some well-established drugs, which are used in humans for other indications (for example, statins), are promising if applied early and concomitantly to standard therapy. In the future, more individually tailored strategies must also be considered in line with the spectrum of portal hypertensive complications and risk factors defined by high-throughput analysis of the patient’s genome, transcriptome, metabolome, or microbiome.
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