Hepatitis virus C infection, adipokines and hepatic steato-fibrosis

J Med Life. 2008 Jan-Mar;1(1):49-54.

Abstract

Hepatitis C viral infection is accompanied by various serum alterations that could explain its molecular impact on hepatic structure and metabolic homeostasis. Recently it has been shown that adipocytokines play a pivotal role in development of hepatic steato-fibrosis, different studies giving a support of the hypothesis that the balance of adipocytokine expression is a key regulator for the progression of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis. The association between insulin resistance and hepatitis C virus genotypes and liver fibrosis stage foreshadowed that virus-induced insulin resistance may be a mechanism for fibrogenesis in chronic hepatitis C virus infection. The main importance of adipocytokine profile detection consists in the prediction of steatosis induction that has clinical relevance, being associated with advanced fibrosis and hyporesponsiveness to antiviral therapy.

MeSH terms

  • Adipokines / metabolism*
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Fatty Liver / immunology
  • Fatty Liver / pathology
  • Fatty Liver / virology*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / immunology*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / pathology*
  • Homeostasis / immunology
  • Humans
  • Liver Cirrhosis / immunology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / pathology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / virology*

Substances

  • Adipokines
  • Antiviral Agents