We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
RANDOX LABORATORIES

Download Mobile App




Oxidized LDL Predicts Response to Interferon Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C and May Be a Treatment Option

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 27 May 2015
Print article
Image: Electron micrograph of Hepatitis C virus purified from cell culture. Scale bar is 50 nanometers (Photo courtesy of the Center for the Study of Hepatitis C, the Rockefeller University).
Image: Electron micrograph of Hepatitis C virus purified from cell culture. Scale bar is 50 nanometers (Photo courtesy of the Center for the Study of Hepatitis C, the Rockefeller University).
Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) in the blood was shown to predict responsiveness to interferon treatment in patients with chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and to inhibit spread of the virus in vitro.

HCV is a small enveloped virus with a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genome. It has chronically infected an estimated 160 million individuals worldwide and is a leading cause of end-stage liver disease. Pegylated interferon-alpha (peg-IFN) in combination with ribavirin (RBV) has long been the standard treatment. Beginning in 2011 several direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAA) have been approved, and more are expected to follow. Currently, both peg-IFN-containing and interferon-free treatments are available.

Oxidized LDL is a modified form of low-density lipoprotein that is no longer a ligand for the native LDL receptor but is a ligand for the acetyl LDL receptor, and its uptake by macrophages is therefore much more rapid, sufficient to cause cholesterol accumulation and formation of the foam cells that block flow of blood in the arteries.

OxLDL has been shown to inhibit the interaction between HCV and several cell surface receptors, including scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI). Investigators at Hannover Medical School (Niedersachsen, Germany) tested whether serum oxLDL levels correlated with sustained virologic response (SVR) rates after interferon-based treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

To do this they determined baseline oxLDL in 379 participants with chronic HCV genotype 1 infection using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Mechanistic in vitro studies used full-length and subgenomic HCV genomes replicating in hepatoma cells.

Results published in the May 2015 issue of the journal Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology revealed that oxLDL was found to be an independent predictor of SVR. Oxidized LDL did not correlate with markers of inflammation (alanine transaminase, ferritin), nor was serum oxLDL affected by exogenous interferon administration. Also, oxLDL did not alter the sensitivity of HCV replication to interferon. However, oxLDL was found to be a potent inhibitor of cell-to-cell spread of HCV between adjacent cells in vitro. It could thus reduce the rate at which new cells are infected by HCV through either the cell-free or cell-to-cell route. Finally, serum oxLDL was significantly associated with the estimated infected cell loss rate under treatment.

"While highly effective direct-acting antivirals have become the new standard of care for patients with hepatitis C, these treatments come with a hefty price tag," said first author Dr. Philipp Solbach, an internist at Hannover Medical School. "There may still be a role for the more affordable interferon-based therapies, and with this new information, we can better assess which patients will respond to this less-expensive treatment."

Related Links:

Hannover Medical School


Gold Member
Troponin T QC
Troponin T Quality Control
Unit-Dose Packaging solution
HLX
New
Serum Toxicology Benzodiazepine Assay
DRI Serum Toxicology Benzodiazepine Assay
New
Gold Member
Pneumocystis Jirovecii Detection Kit
Pneumocystis Jirovecii Real Time RT-PCR Kit

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: The new saliva-based test for heart failure measures two biomarkers in about 15 minutes (Photo courtesy of Trey Pittman)

POC Saliva Testing Device Predicts Heart Failure in 15 Minutes

Heart failure is a serious condition where the heart muscle is unable to pump sufficient oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. It ranks as a major cause of death globally and is particularly fatal for... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: The bowel cancer breakthrough could result in better treatment outcomes (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

New RNA Molecules Can Help Predict Bowel Cancer Return Recurrence

Colorectal cancer accounts for 10% of all cancer-related deaths worldwide and was ranked as the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States in 2022. Currently, clinicians face diagnostic... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: QScout CBC will give a complete blood count in 2 minutes from fingerstick or venous blood (Photo courtesy of Ad Astra Diagnostics)

Next Gen CBC and Sepsis Diagnostic System Targets Faster, Earlier, Easier Results

Every hour is critical in protecting patients from infections, yet there are currently limited tools to assist in early diagnosis before patients reach a hospital. The complete blood count (CBC) is a common... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: The InfectoSynovia test has the potential to revolutionize the diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

High-Accuracy Bedside Test to Diagnose Periprosthetic Joint Infection in Five Minutes

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) represents a significant global issue that is worsening as the number of joint replacements increases due to aging populations. In the United States alone, the anticipated... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image

AI-Based Method Shows Promise for Pathological Diagnosis of Hereditary Kidney Diseases

Alport syndrome is a hereditary kidney disorder characterized by kidney dysfunction, sensorineural hearing loss, and ocular abnormalities. Early in the disease, patients experience hematuria, which is... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.