Projects per year
Abstract
Background and Aims: The high replication and mutation rate of hepatitis C virus (HCV) results in a heterogeneous population of viral sequences in vivo. HCV replicates in the liver and infected hepatocytes occur as foci surrounded by uninfected cells that may promote compartmentalization of viral variants. Given recent reports showing interferon stimulated gene (ISG) expression in chronic hepatitis C, we hypothesized that local interferon responses may limit HCV replication and evolution. Methods: To investigate the spatial influence of liver architecture on viral replication we measured HCV RNA and ISG mRNA from each of the 8 Couinaud segments of the liver from 21 patients undergoing liver transplant. Results: HCV RNA and ISG mRNA levels were comparable across all sites from an individual liver but showed up to 500-fold difference between patients. Importantly, there was no association between ISG and HCV RNA expression across all sites in the liver or plasma. Deep sequencing of HCV RNA isolated from the 8 hepatic sites from two subjects showed a similar distribution of viral quasispecies across the liver and uniform sequence diversity. Single genome amplification of HCV E1E2-envelope clones from 6 selected patients at 2 hepatic sites supported these data and showed no evidence for HCV compartmentalization. Conclusions: We found no differences between the hepatic and plasma viral quasispecies in all patients sampled. We conclude that in end- stage liver disease HCV RNA levels and the genetic pool of HCV envelope sequences are indistinguishable between distant sites in the liver and plasma, arguing against viral compartmentalization.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 28-38 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Journal of Hepatology |
Volume | 66 |
Early online date | 13 Aug 2016 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2017 |
Keywords
- Hepatitis C
- ESLD
- Evolution
- Compartmentalization
- Innate Immunity
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Immunology and Microbiology
- Virology
- Immunology
- Hepatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Transplantation
- Microbiology (medical)
- Oncology
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Dive into the research topics of 'High resolution sequencing of hepatitis C virus reveals limited intra-hepatic compartmentalization in end stage liver disease'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 3 Finished
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The Role of Hepatitis C Virus Glycoprotein-Receptor Polymorphism in Viral Pathogenesis
McKeating, J. (Principal Investigator)
1/01/12 → 30/06/17
Project: Research Councils
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Mechanisms of Hepatitis C Virus Induced Hepatocyte Injury
McKeating, J. (Principal Investigator) & Balfe, P. (Co-Investigator)
1/10/09 → 30/09/12
Project: Research Councils
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A Role for Hepatic Sinusoidal Endothelial Cell Antigen Presentation in the Generation of Immune Tolerance in Hepatitis C
Rowe, I. (Principal Investigator)
1/01/09 → 4/01/12
Project: Research Councils