1
|
Bauer D, Kozbial K, Schwabl P, Chromy D, Simbrunner B, Stättermayer AF, Pinter M, Steindl-Munda P, Trauner M, Ferenci P, Reiberger T, Mandorfer M. Angiopoietin 2 levels decrease after HCV-cure and reflect the evolution of portal hypertension. Dig Liver Dis 2022; 54:1222-1229. [PMID: 35382974 DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2022.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Portal hypertension (PH) does not resolve in a considerable proportion of patients who achieved HCV-cure. AIMS To investigate (i)whether HCV-cure impacts cytokines that orchestrate angiogenesis (i.e.,Ang1/Ang2/VEGF) and fibrogenesis (i.e.,PDGF/TGF-β) and (ii)whether their changes reflect PH-evolution and its complications. METHODS We measured plasma levels of cytokines and von Willebrand factor (VWF) and assessed hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) before/after HCV-cure in 66 patients with pre-treatment PH and 23 patients without advanced disease, who served as controls. RESULTS Following HCV-cure, we observed a decrease in Ang2/TGF-β, but no changes in the other cytokines. The differences in circulating cytokine profiles in PH patients persisted after removing the primary etiological factor. Patients with pre-treatment HVPG≥10 mmHg with HVPG-reduction≥10% had a more pronounced relative decrease in Ang2. Finally, post-treatment Ang2 predicted FU-HVPG≥16 mmHg/decompensation with AUROC-values of 0.804/0.835. CONCLUSIONS HCV-cure decreases circulating Ang2 - a mediator/indicator of dysangiogenesis/endothelial dysfunction, as well as TGF-β - a profibrogenic cytokine. The dynamics of Ang2 mirrored those of PH, rendering FU-Ang2 a non-invasive test for pronounced PH at FU that also predicts hepatic decompensation. The pathophysiological significance of the persistently altered cytokine levels for mechanisms that hinder the PH-regression warrants further study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Bauer
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria; Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Karin Kozbial
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Philipp Schwabl
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria; Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria; Christian-Doppler Laboratory for Portal Hypertension and Liver Fibrosis, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria; Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases, Lazarettgasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria; CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Lazarettgasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - David Chromy
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Benedikt Simbrunner
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria; Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Albert F Stättermayer
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria; Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Matthias Pinter
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria; Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Petra Steindl-Munda
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Michael Trauner
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Peter Ferenci
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Thomas Reiberger
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria; Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria; Christian-Doppler Laboratory for Portal Hypertension and Liver Fibrosis, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria; Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases, Lazarettgasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria; CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Lazarettgasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Mattias Mandorfer
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria; Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria; Christian-Doppler Laboratory for Portal Hypertension and Liver Fibrosis, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Virzì A, Gonzalez-Motos V, Tripon S, Baumert TF, Lupberger J. Profibrotic Signaling and HCC Risk during Chronic Viral Hepatitis: Biomarker Development. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10050977. [PMID: 33801181 PMCID: PMC7957739 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10050977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite breakthroughs in antiviral therapies, chronic viral hepatitis B and C are still the major causes of liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Importantly, even in patients with controlled infection or viral cure, the cancer risk cannot be fully eliminated, highlighting a persisting oncogenic pressure imposed by epigenetic imprinting and advanced liver disease. Reliable and minimally invasive biomarkers for early fibrosis and for residual HCC risk in HCV-cured patients are urgently needed. Chronic infection with HBV and/or HCV dysregulates oncogenic and profibrogenic signaling within the host, also displayed in the secretion of soluble factors to the blood. The study of virus-dysregulated signaling pathways may, therefore, contribute to the identification of reliable minimally invasive biomarkers for the detection of patients at early-stage liver disease potentially complementing existing noninvasive methods in clinics. With a focus on virus-induced signaling events, this review provides an overview of candidate blood biomarkers for liver disease and HCC risk associated with chronic viral hepatitis and epigenetic viral footprints.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Virzì
- Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France; (A.V.); (V.G.-M.); (S.T.); (T.F.B.)
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques (IVH), 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Victor Gonzalez-Motos
- Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France; (A.V.); (V.G.-M.); (S.T.); (T.F.B.)
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques (IVH), 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Simona Tripon
- Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France; (A.V.); (V.G.-M.); (S.T.); (T.F.B.)
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques (IVH), 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire, Pôle Hépato-Digestif, Nouvel Hôpital Civil, 67091 Strasbourg, France
| | - Thomas F. Baumert
- Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France; (A.V.); (V.G.-M.); (S.T.); (T.F.B.)
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques (IVH), 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire, Pôle Hépato-Digestif, Nouvel Hôpital Civil, 67091 Strasbourg, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 75231 Paris, France
| | - Joachim Lupberger
- Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France; (A.V.); (V.G.-M.); (S.T.); (T.F.B.)
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques (IVH), 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Benkheil M, Van Haele M, Roskams T, Laporte M, Noppen S, Abbasi K, Delang L, Neyts J, Liekens S. CCL20, a direct-acting pro-angiogenic chemokine induced by hepatitis C virus (HCV): Potential role in HCV-related liver cancer. Exp Cell Res 2018; 372:168-177. [PMID: 30287142 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2018.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Revised: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The CCL20/CCR6 chemokine/receptor axis has previously been shown to contribute to the initiation and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through the recruitment of CCR6-positive leukocytes to the tumor microenvironment. In particular, high serum levels of CCL20 are reported in patients with HCC induced by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). A potential non-immune role for the CCL20/CCR6 axis in HCC development has not yet been investigated. Microarray analysis (Benkheil et al., paper submitted for publication), revealed that CCL20 is highly upregulated in hepatoma cells infected with HCV compared with non-infected hepatoma cells. To determine the role of the CCL20/CCR6 axis in HCV-related HCC, we first explored which cell populations express CCR6 in human liver tissue with chronic disease or HCC. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis revealed that CCR6 is present on endothelial cells (ECs) of portal blood vessels in livers with chronic HCV infection and in HCV- and alcoholic-HCC tissue. In addition, we found CCR6 to be expressed on primary macrovascular (HUVECs) and microvascular ECs (HMVEC-ds) where it co-expressed with the endothelial marker CD31. In vitro angiogenesis experiments revealed that CCL20 is a direct pro-angiogenic molecule that induces EC invasion, sprouting and migration through CCR6. Moreover, using the angiogenesis matrigel plug assay in immunodeficient NMRI-nu mice, we clearly showed that CCL20 induces blood vessel formation, by attracting CCR6-positive ECs. Finally, we demonstrated that HCV-induced CCL20 protein expression and secretion in hepatoma cells could be abolished by antiviral treatment, indicating that CCL20 expression is dependent on HCV replication. In contrast to HCV, HBV-infection resulted in a decreased expression of CCL20, implying a virus-specific effect. Taken together, we identified HCV-induced CCL20 as a direct pro-angiogenic factor that acts on endothelial CCR6. These results suggest that the CCL20/CCR6 axis contributes to hepatic angiogenesis, promoting the hypervascular state of HCV-HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Benkheil
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium.
| | - Matthias Van Haele
- Translational Cell & Tissue Research, Department of Imaging & Pathology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium
| | - Tania Roskams
- Translational Cell & Tissue Research, Department of Imaging & Pathology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium
| | - Manon Laporte
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium
| | - Sam Noppen
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium
| | - Kayvan Abbasi
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium
| | - Leen Delang
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium
| | - Johan Neyts
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium
| | - Sandra Liekens
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium
| |
Collapse
|