Whole-body insulin resistance is associated with elevated serum α-fetoprotein levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Iron homeostasis and insulin sensitivity: unraveling the complex interactions

Diabetes has arisen as a noteworthy global health issue, marked by escalating incidence and mortality rates. Insulin, crucial for preserving euglycemia, acts as a vital energy provider for various tissues. Iron metabolism notably plays a significant role in the development of insulin resistance, a key factor in the onset of various metabolic disorders. The intricate interaction between iron and insulin signaling encompasses complex regulatory mechanisms at the molecular level, thereby impacting cellular reactions to insulin. The intricate interplay between insulin and glucagon, essential for precise regulation of hepatic glucose production and systemic glucose levels, may be influenced by certain microelements for instance zinc, copper, iron, boron, calcium, cobalt, chromium, iodine, magnesium and selenium. While significant progress has been achieved in elucidating the pathophysiological connections between iron overload and glucose metabolism, our understanding of the involvement of the Fenton reaction and oxidative stress in insulin resistance influencing many chronical conditions remains limited. Furthermore, the exploration of the multifaceted roles of insulin in the human body continues to be a subject of active investigation by numerous scientific researchers. This review comprehensively outlines the potential adverse impact of iron overload on insulin function and glucose metabolism. Additionally, we provide a synthesis of findings derived from various research domains, encompassing population studies, animal models, and clinical investigations, to scrutinize the multifaceted relationship between iron and insulin sensitivity. Moreover, we delineate instances of correlations between serum iron levels and various medical conditions, including the diabetes also gestational diabetes and obesity.

The Association of XRCC1 Gene Polymorphisms and Chronic Hepatitis C Induced Insulin Resistance in Egyptian Patients

Chronic hepatitis C is implicated in insulin resistance (IR) susceptibility. An X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 gene (XRCC1) is proposed to be a candidate gene for a study of IR susceptibility. So, this study aims to investigate the possible association of the XRCC1 gene polymorphisms with the risk of IR related to chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Egyptian patients. In a case-control study, a total of 210 subjects, including 140 chronic HCV patients (87 patients with IR and 53 without IR) and 70 healthy controls, were included. Two genetic polymorphisms (c.1254C > T and c.1517G > C) of the XRCC1 gene were genotyped via the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. The result of the current study revealed that these two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have statistically significant influences on susceptibility to IR in chronic HCV infected Egyptian patients. It could be concluded that c.1254C > T, the TT genotype, CT/CC carriers as well as c.1517G > C, the CC genotype and GC/GG carriers might be associated with increased IR susceptibility. Moreover, T-allele of c.1254C > T and the C-allele of c.1517G > C genetic variants might influence the susceptibility.

Improving treatment and liver fibrosis outcomes with metformin in HCV-HIV co-infected and HCV mono-infected patients with insulin resistance: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Approximately 180 million people worldwide, (3 % of the world's population) are infected with hepatitis C (HCV). Insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) are common extrahepatic manifestations of chronic HCV infection and associated with poor treatment and liver-related outcomes. The presence of these metabolic complications have been associated with poor response to interferon-based HCV antiviral therapy and increased risk of liver-related outcomes. Metformin, an insulin sensitizer is known to improve HCV treatment response and has been associated with a reduced risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study will evaluate the effect of metformin on preventing progression or promoting regression of liver fibrosis, rate of virologic cure (SVR) and other metabolic measures in HCV-HIV co-infected and HCV mono-infected study participants who have IR and are planning on initiating HCV treatment.

METHODS

This study is a prospective 48-week single-centre, randomized, open-label, controlled trial of HIV-HCV co-infected and HCV mono-infected patients with IR (HOMA-IR ≥ 2.0) who are planning to initiate HCV antiviral therapy. Sixty participants will be recruited from The Ottawa Hospital Viral Hepatitis Clinic. Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either arm 1, metformin 2 g (1 g twice daily) plus lifestyle, or to arm 2, lifestyle alone. The primary outcome will be the change in FibroScan® score (kPa) from baseline to week 12 (start of HCV treatment), the end of HCV treatment (week 24) and 24 weeks post HCV treatment (week 48). Secondary outcomes include changes in liver fibrosis using AST to platelet ratio index, changes in glucose and lipid levels, anthropometric measures, changes in alpha-fetoprotein levels, patient acceptability, and changes in dietary and physical activity parameters.

DISCUSSION

This pilot study will be the first to evaluate the role of metformin on liver fibrosis in HCV-HIV co-infected and HCV mono-infected patients with IR receiving DAA HCV treatment. If metformin is effective in reducing liver fibrosis in this patient population, this will represent a well-tolerated, easy-to-administer, inexpensive therapy that will protect against negative HCV outcomes. This study will also be an opportunity to evaluate the impact of insulin resistance and hyperglycemia on viral clearance in HCV-infected patients treated with interferon-free regimens.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02306070 version 4.0 (June 29, 2015).

Improving treatment and liver fibrosis outcomes with metformin in HCV-HIV co-infected and HCV mono-infected patients with insulin resistance: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background

Approximately 180 million people worldwide, (3 % of the world’s population) are infected with hepatitis C (HCV). Insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) are common extrahepatic manifestations of chronic HCV infection and associated with poor treatment and liver-related outcomes. The presence of these metabolic complications have been associated with poor response to interferon-based HCV antiviral therapy and increased risk of liver-related outcomes. Metformin, an insulin sensitizer is known to improve HCV treatment response and has been associated with a reduced risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study will evaluate the effect of metformin on preventing progression or promoting regression of liver fibrosis, rate of virologic cure (SVR) and other metabolic measures in HCV-HIV co-infected and HCV mono-infected study participants who have IR and are planning on initiating HCV treatment.

Methods

This study is a prospective 48-week single-centre, randomized, open-label, controlled trial of HIV-HCV co-infected and HCV mono-infected patients with IR (HOMA-IR ≥ 2.0) who are planning to initiate HCV antiviral therapy. Sixty participants will be recruited from The Ottawa Hospital Viral Hepatitis Clinic. Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either arm 1, metformin 2 g (1 g twice daily) plus lifestyle, or to arm 2, lifestyle alone. The primary outcome will be the change in FibroScan® score (kPa) from baseline to week 12 (start of HCV treatment), the end of HCV treatment (week 24) and 24 weeks post HCV treatment (week 48). Secondary outcomes include changes in liver fibrosis using AST to platelet ratio index, changes in glucose and lipid levels, anthropometric measures, changes in alpha-fetoprotein levels, patient acceptability, and changes in dietary and physical activity parameters.

Discussion

This pilot study will be the first to evaluate the role of metformin on liver fibrosis in HCV-HIV co-infected and HCV mono-infected patients with IR receiving DAA HCV treatment. If metformin is effective in reducing liver fibrosis in this patient population, this will represent a well-tolerated, easy-to-administer, inexpensive therapy that will protect against negative HCV outcomes. This study will also be an opportunity to evaluate the impact of insulin resistance and hyperglycemia on viral clearance in HCV-infected patients treated with interferon-free regimens.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02306070 version 4.0 (June 29, 2015)

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13063-016-1454-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Elevated serum α-fetoprotein levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 4: not the end of the story

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Elevated serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) is not uncommonly seen among patients with chronic hepatitis C. This study aimed to identify clinical characteristics, histological characteristics, and biochemical markers associated with increased serum AFP levels in hepatitis C virus genotype 4-infected patients with no evidence of hepatocellular carcinoma and to determine the effect of lifestyle modification on these parameters.

METHODS

The study included 447 chronic hepatitis C patients with no evidence of hepatocellular carcinoma and 100 healthy controls. They underwent liver biopsies, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), measurement of serum insulin, leptin, adiponectin, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 levels by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and assessment of AFP levels. Eighty patients with HOMA-IR greater than 3 received prospective longitudinal lifestyle intervention.

RESULTS

In a multivariate analysis, platelet count less than 140×10/cm, a mean platelet volume of at least 9.5 fl, a neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) of at least 2, an aspartate transaminase level of at least 55 IU/l, a γ-glutamyl transpeptidase level of at least 40 IU/l, an albumin level of up to 3.8 g/dl, HOMA-IR greater than 3, a leptin level of at least 10 pg/ml, an iron level of at least 165 μg/dl, a ferritin level of at level 175 ng/ml, and hepatic fibrosis F3-F4 were found to be independently associated with elevated AFP levels. The lifestyle intervention significantly improved BMI, platelet indices, NLR, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, leptin, leptin/adiponectin ratio, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, HOMA-IR, and AFP levels.

CONCLUSION

Elevated insulin resistance, leptin, serum iron, ferritin, mean platelet volume, NLR, and advanced fibrosis, as well as decreased platelet count and serum albumin, are independently associated with an elevated AFP level. Lifestyle modification can improve (reduce) insulin resistance, leptin, leptin/adiponectin ratio, platelet count and their indices, NLR, and AFP level.

Successful Hepatitis C Antiviral Therapy Induces Remission of Type 2 Diabetes: A Case Report

Patient: Male, 49

Final Diagnosis: Type 2 diabetes

Symptoms: —

Medication: —

Clinical Procedure: —

Specialty: Endocrinology and Metabolic

Impact of Body Weight Reduction via Diet and Exercise on the Anti-Viral Effects of Pegylated Interferon Plus Ribavirin in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients with Insulin Resistance: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial

OBJECTIVE

Insulin resistance (IR) modifies the anti-viral effects of interferon (IFN) therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). This prospective study evaluated whether lifestyle interventions improve the anti-viral response to treatment with pegylated (PEG)-IFN plus ribavirin (RBV) in patients with CHC.

METHODS

The study cohort consisted of 60 patients chronically infected with a high viral load of hepatitis C virus genotype 1b and a homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) value above 2. The patients were divided into two groups, an intervention group (n=26) and a control group (n=34). The patients in the intervention group were prescribed diet and exercise treatment for 3-6 months to reduce their body weight by ≥5% before starting treatment with PEG-IFN plus RBV.

RESULTS

Diet and exercise significantly reduced the HOMA-IR values in the intervention group, from 3.4 to 2.5 (p=0.0009), especially among the 15 patients who achieved a body weight reduction of ≥5%. The viral disappearance rate at 12 weeks was significantly higher in the intervention group among the patients with a ≥5% weight reduction than in the control group (53.3% vs. 23.5%, p=0.01). However, the sustained viral response (SVR) rates were similar.

CONCLUSION

Improvements in IR achieved through weight reduction via lifestyle interventions may enhance the early viral response to PEG-IFN plus RBV in patients with CHC. However, this intervention program has no effect on the SVR rate.

Interaction between hepatitis C virus and metabolic factors

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection disrupts the normal metabolism processes, but is also influenced by several of the host’s metabolic factors. An obvious and significantly detrimental pathophysiological feature of HCV infection is insulin resistance in hepatic and peripheral tissues. Substantial research efforts have been put forth recently to elucidate the molecular mechanism of HCV-induced insulin resistance, and several cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α, have been identified as important contributors to the development of insulin resistance in the distant peripheral tissues of HCV-infected patients and animal models. The demonstrated etiologies of HCV-induced whole-body insulin resistance include oxidative stress, lipid metabolism abnormalities, hepatic steatosis and iron overload. In addition, myriad effects of this condition have been characterized, including glucose intolerance, resistance to antiviral therapy, progression of hepatic fibrosis, development of hepatocellular carcinoma, and general decrease in quality of life. Metabolic-related conditions and disorders, such as visceral obesity and diabetes mellitus, have been shown to synergistically enhance HCV-induced metabolic disturbance, and are associated with worse prognosis. Yet, the molecular interactions between HCV-induced metabolic disturbance and host-associated metabolic factors remain largely unknown. The diet and lifestyle recommendations for chronic hepatitis C are basically the same as those for obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Specifically, patients are suggested to restrict their dietary iron intake, abstain from alcohol and tobacco, and increase their intake of green tea and coffee (to attain the beneficial effects of caffeine and polyphenols). While successful clinical management of HCV-infected patients with metabolic disorders has also been achieved with some anti-diabetic (i.e., metformin) and anti-lipid (i.e., statins) medications, it is recommended that sulfonylurea and insulin be avoided.