Project description:Although treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with direct acting antivirals (DAAs) results in high rates of cure, liver fibrosis does not resolve immediately after HCV eradication. Resolution of fibrosis occurs in some, but not all patients, after HCV cure, and hepatic decompensation and hepatocellular carcinoma can still occur in patients with pre-existing cirrhosis. We hypothesized that evaluation of the host liver proteome in the context of HCV treatment would provide insight into how inflammatory and fibrinogenic pathways change upon HCV eradication. We evaluated the whole liver proteome and phosphoproteome using paired liver biopsies from 8 HCV-infected patients collected before or immediately after treatment with DAAs in clinical trials. We identify interferon stimulated proteins as the predominant pathways that decrease with HCV treatment, which is consistent with previous analyses of the liver transcriptome during DAA therapy. While there was no change in the proteome of pathways associated with liver fibrosis, we identified a decrease in the phosphoproteome signature for ERK1/ERK2 as a result of HCV treatment. Conclusion: There is a reduction in the endogenous interferon-mediated antiviral response and alterations in the phosphoproteome that may precede resolution of fibrosis in the liver immediately after treatment of HCV with DAAs.
Project description:Despite advances in antiviral therapy, molecular drivers of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)-related liver disease remain poorly characterised. Chronic infection with HCV genotypes (1 and 3) differ in presentation of liver steatosis and virological response to therapies, both to interferon and direct acting antivirals. Using whole transcriptome microarrays, we analysed gene expression profiles of liver tissue obtained from individuals infected with either HCV G1 or G3 in progressive and advanced liver disease and identified key altered cellular pathways.
Project description:We applied small RNA Solexa sequencing technology to identify microRNA expression in human liver samples from surgically removed liver tissues including three normal liver tissues (distal normal liver tissue of liver hemangioma), an hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected liver, a severe chronic hepatitis B liver, two HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), an hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCC, and an HCC without HBV or HCV infection. All samples were collected with the informed consent of the patients and the experiments were approved by the ethics committee of Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. We investigated the miRNome in human normal liver and suggested some deregulated abundantly expressed microRNAs in HCC. center_name: National Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology & Institute of Immunology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. Examination of miRNome in human liver samples from surgically removed liver tissues including three normal liver tissues (distal normal liver tissue of liver hemangioma), an hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected liver tissue, a severe chronic hepatitis B liver tissue, an HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue and adjacent liver tissues of different regions,an HBV-related HCC tissue and adjacent liver tissue, an hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCC tissue and adjacent liver tissue, and an HCC without HBV or HCV infection and adjacent liver tissue. All 15 human liver tissue samples.
Project description:The aim of this deep sequencing project is to determine whether treatment of chronically Hepatitis C infected chimpanzees with an antiviral compound leads to accumulation of viral mutants. The liver-expressed microRNA-122 (miR-122) is essential for hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA accumulation in cultured liver cells, but its potential as a target for antiviral intervention has not been assessed. Here, we show that treatment of chronically infected chimpanzees with a locked nucleic acid (LNA)-modified oligonucleotide (SPC3649) complementary to miR-122 leads to long-lasting suppression of HCV viremia with no evidence for viral resistance or side effects in the treated animals. Furthermore, transcriptome and histological analyses of liver biopsies demonstrated derepression of target mRNAs with miR-122 seed sites, down-regulation of interferon-regulated genes (IRGs) and improvement of HCV-induced liver pathology. The prolonged virological response to SPC3649 treatment without HCV rebound holds promise of a new antiviral therapy with a high barrier to resistance.
Project description:The aim of this study was to identify differential gene and protein expression associated with GBV-C that may be of importance in reduction of HCV-related liver disease. GB virus C (GBV-C) infection leads to improved outcomes in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Furthermore, GBV-C has been shown to reduce hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver disease in HCV/HIV co-infection. We aimed to identify differential gene expression associated with GBV-C in HCV/HIV co-infection by comparing RNA expression from liver biopsies of HCV/HIV co-infected patients with and without GBV-C infection. Liver biopsies were obtained from 10 Patients with HCV/HIV co-infection; 4 of these patients were positive for GBV-C infection and 6 were negative for GBV-C infection. The tissue was stored in RNAlater and RNA was extracted for hybridisation to Affymetrix Human Genome U133 plus 2.0 microarrays at the University of Texas Medical Branch Molecular Genomics Core Laboratory. The data was analysed for genes differentially expressed between GBV-C positive and negative patients using Partek Genomics suite and applying a custom CDF file (Hs133P_Hs_UG_8), available from Molecular and Behavioural Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan.
Project description:Chronic liver injury can result in fibrosis that may progress over years to end-stage liver disease. The most effective antifibrotic therapy is treatment of the underlying disease, however when this is not possible, interventions to reverse fibrosis are needed. We conducted an open-label pilot trial to study the safety and tolerability of simtuzumab, a monoclonal antibody directed against lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2) enzyme, in patients with advanced liver disease from hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or HCV-HIV co-infection. 18 patients with advanced liver fibrosis received simtuzumab 700mg IV every 2 weeks for 22 weeks. There were no discontinuations due to adverse events. No significant change was seen in hepatic venous pressure gradient or liver biopsy fibrosis score after treatment. Exploratory transcriptional and protein profiling using paired pre- and post-treatment liver biopsies, serum, and whole blood identified upregulation of TGFβ3 and IL-10 pathways with treatment. In summary, simtuzumab was well tolerated in HCV- and HIV-infected patients with advanced liver disease. Modulation of TGFβ3 and IL-10 pathways as a result of simtuzumab treatment merits investigation in future trials.
Project description:Chronic hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) causes liver inflammation and fibrosis, leading to development of severe liver disease, such as cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Approval of direct acting antiviral (DAA) drug combinations has revolutionized chronic HCV therapy, with virus eradication in >98% of the treated patients. The efficacy of these treatments is such that it is formally possible for cured patients to carry formerly infected cells that display irreversible transcriptional alterations directly caused by chronic HCV Infection. Combining differential transcriptomes from two different persistent infection models, we observed a major reversion of infection-related transcripts after complete infection elimination. However, a small number of transcripts were abnormally expressed in formerly infected cells. Comparison of the results obtained in proliferating and growth-arrested cell culture models suggest that permanent transcriptional alterations may be established by several mechanisms. Interestingly, some of these alterations were also observed in the liver biopsies of virologically cured patients. Overall, our data suggest a direct and permanent impact of persistent HCV infection on the host cell transcriptome even after virus elimination, possibly contributing to development of HCC.
Project description:Introduction: Mechanisms that contribute to the pathogenesis of liver damage caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV) are not fully understood. Our previous work on liver biopsies from chronic HCV patients has shown modulation of the expression of certain cell cycle proteins indicating HCV-induced modifications of cell cycle events. We therefore hypothesize that HCV infection disrupts normal regulation of cell cycle that contributes to disease progression. Objective: To identify molecular disruptions during the course of HCV-associated disease progression, using liver biopsy specimens of chronic hepatitis C patients. Methods: Liver biopsy samples classified on histological basis as early (fibrosis stage 0-1) or advanced (fibrosis stage 3-4) disease stage were studied using oligonucleotide array ( HG U133 Plus 2.0, Affymetrix GeneChip⢠System). For comparison, liver specimens from patients with non-viral hepatitis were also analyzed by microarray. Expression data was analyzed using Genespring (GX 7.2) and Ingenuity Pathway analysis (3.0). The differential expression of selected cell cycle genes (cyclin D2, KPNA2, HERC5 and Bcl-2) identified after microarray analysis was confirmed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Results: Microarray analysis revealed two-fold or greater transcriptional change in 792 genes of the total 38,500 known human genes in HCV-advance disease stage (HCV-A) as compared to HCV-early disease stage (HCV-E). Most of the genes have a defined role in immune response, extracellular matrix and cell cycle and apoptosis. Experiment Overall Design: Liver biopsy samples were collected from patients of (a) HCV-infected early disease stage (HCV-E, control 1) (b) non-HCV advance disease stage (control 2) and (c) HCV-infected advance disease stage (HCV-A) for RNA extraction. Equal amount of RNA was pooled from samples (n=4)within each group and hybridized to HG-U133 Plus 2.0 array.
Project description:End stage liver disease due to Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection is a major health concern worldwide. Liver fibrosis following chronic HCV infection plays a pivotal role in loss of liver function and end stage liver disease. However the dynamics and molecular events that lead to fibrosis in HCV infection are poorly defined. Therefore, we determined the influence of HCV infection in altering the miRNA expression levels which can modulate immune responses to HCV leading to fibrosis. Analysis of the miRNA expression profiles of HCV infected liver biopsies revealed that 45 miRNAs were differentially expressed in the HCV infected liver when compared to normal livers. In silico target prediction of these differentially expressed miRNAs indicated that their targets include chemokine/cytokine signaling, cell cycle genes and extracellular matrix protein gene expression. Gene expression profiling using whole genome microarray demonstrated that 1320 genes were differentially expressed in chronic HCV liver when compared to normal. These genes could be functionally grouped into those involved in cell cycle regulation, cytokines and chemokines expression, cell adhesion, intracellular signaling and enzymes. Further pathway analysis using GeneGo software identified cell adhesion, cytoskeleton remodeling, cytokine signaling and metabolic pathways as the major pathways activated in chronic HCV. Combinatorial target prediction analysis of miRNA expression along with gene expression analysis indicated that differentially expressed microRNAs in HCV significantly impact transforming growth factor beta (TGF-?) signaling pathway, cell adhesion (integrin expression), chemokine signaling, Notch signaling and cell-cycle( Cyclin D,K) regulation. Overall these results demonstrate that chronic HCV infection induces specific miRNA signatures that will modulate genes involved in the cytoskeletal remodeling and cytokine signaling that can promote the development of fibrosis following HCV infection. Liver biopsies from chronic HCV patients and control liver biopsies from normal subjects (donor liver prior to transplantation) were used to analyze the miRNA and gene expression profile. Patients with HBV and/or HIV were excluded from the study. This Series represents the mRNA gene expression profiling data only.
Project description:Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection induces interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) and downstream innate immune responses. This study investigated whether baseline and on-treatment differences in these responses predict response versus virological breakthrough during therapy with direct acting antivirals (DAA). Microarray and nanostring analyses were performed on paired liver biopsies and analyzed using linear mixed models. As biomarkers for peripheral IFN responses, peripheral blood natural killer cells were assessed for pSTAT1 and TRAIL expression and for cytotoxicity.