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Updated: Jul 25, 2025
Lipid Droplet Isolation for Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Analysis
Published on: April 17, 2017
Controlled Attenuation Parameter Is Associated with a Distinct Systemic Inflammatory Milieu after Clearance of HCV
Yanqin Du1,2, Tanvi Khera1,3,4, Zhaoli Liu5,6
1Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany.
Insights
Persistent hepatic steatosis after Hepatitis C virus (HCV) clearance is linked to specific inflammatory mediators. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) and Interleukin-18 receptor 1 (IL-18R1) levels were elevated, while Stem Cell Factor (SCF) and TWEAK levels decreased post-HCV treatment.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is linked to lipid metabolism issues and hepatic steatosis.
- Steatosis often persists even after successful HCV clearance, with unclear underlying mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between 92 soluble inflammatory mediators (SIMs) and hepatic steatosis grade after HCV clearance.
- To identify biomarkers predicting steatosis severity post-direct-acting antiviral agent (DAA) treatment.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 94 patients with chronic HCV who achieved sustained viral response (SVR) after DAA treatment.
- Classification of patients into steatosis groups using controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) measurements.
- Quantification of 92 SIMs and correlation with CAP values, ALT, γ-GT, and liver stiffness.
Main Results:
- Four SIMs (SCF, TWEAK, FGF-21, IL-18R1) showed significant association with CAP values post-HCV clearance.
- Elevated FGF-21 and IL-18R1 levels were observed in patients with higher CAP (> 299 dB/m).
- Reduced SCF and TWEAK levels were noted in patients with higher CAP values.
Conclusions:
- SCF, TWEAK, FGF-21, and IL-18R1 are potential biomarkers for steatosis status after HCV clearance.
- These proteins may play a role in the pathogenesis of steatosis, potentially contributing to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) post-SVR.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the role of these biomarkers in post-SVR NASH development.
Abstract:
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is closely associated with lipid metabolism defects along with a high prevalence of hepatic steatosis. After HCV clearance, steatosis persists in many patients. However, the reasons behind this phenomenon are not completely clear. To investigate the association between 92 soluble inflammatory mediators (SIMs) and the steatosis grade, we made use of a cohort of 94 patients with chronic HCV infection who cleared HCV after direct-acting antiviral agent (DAA) treatment. Patients were classified into three groups according to their controlled attenuation parameter (CAP). CAP is associated with ALT, γ-GT and liver stiffness after HCV clearance. While stem cell factor (SCF) and tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 12 (TWEAK) levels were significantly reduced in patients with CAP > 299 dB/m, the levels of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-21 and interleukin-18 receptor 1 (IL-18R1) were higher in those patients at week 96 after virus clearance. These four markers also showed a linear correlation with CAP values. FGF-21 levels correlated with CAP only after HCV clearance. Taken together, these four biomarkers, namely SCF, TWEAK, FGF-21 and IL-18R1, are associated with CAP status after virus clearance. A potential role of these proteins in the pathogenesis of post-sustained viral response (SVR) nonalcoholic steatohepatitis requires further investigation.
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