Hepatitis C virus infects the endothelial cells of the blood-brain barrier.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection leads to progressive liver disease and is associated with a variety of extrahepatic syndromes, including central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities. However, it is unclear whether such cognitive abnormalities are a function of systemic disease, impaired hepatic function, or virus infection of the CNS.

Methods

We measured levels of HCV RNA and expression of the viral entry receptor in brain tissue samples from 10 infected individuals (and 3 uninfected individuals, as controls) and human brain microvascular endothelial cells by using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunochemical and confocal imaging analyses. HCV pseudoparticles and cell culture-derived HCV were used to study the ability of endothelial cells to su

SUBMITTER: Fletcher NF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3801216 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature