title: Detection of hepatitis C virus RNA and core protein in keratinocytes from patients with cutaneous lichen planus and chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: Cutaneous lichen planus has been associated in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. It is still unknown whether hepatitis C virus infects keratinocytes of lichen planus lesions. In this report we have analyzed the presence of genomic and anti-genomic hepatitis C virus RNA in skin biopsies from 26 patients with chronic hepatitis C and healthy skin and from 24 patients with cutaneous lichen planus (five with and 19 without hepatitis C virus infection) by in situ hybridization. Hepatitis C virus RNA was detected in the keratinocytes of 69% of the patients with healthy skin and chronic hepatitis C, in 100% of the patients with lichen planus and hepatitis C virus infection, and in none of lichen planus patients without hepatitis C virus infection. The percentage of keratinocytes showing genomic or anti-genomic hepatitis C virus RNA was statistically lower (p < 0.01 in all cases) in patients with healthy skin (mean +/- SD: 5.7 +/- 3.5% and 2.7 +/- 3.1% of keratinocytes with genomic or anti-genomic hepatitis C virus RNA, respectively) than in those with lichen planus lesions (31.7 +/- 7.9% and 18.8 +/- 7.4%, mean +/- SD) or the unaffected adjacent skin (24.8 +/- 6.9% and 14.3 +/- 3.8%, mean +/- SD). In conclusion, we have demonstrated that hepatitis C virus infects keratinocytes from patients with lichen planus and hepatitis C virus infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lazaro
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olalquiaga
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bartolomé
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ortiz-Movilla
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Iñigo
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pardo
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lecona
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pico
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: García-Morrás
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carreño
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000821:virology*; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D009418:S100 Proteins; D014758:Viral Core Proteins