title: Modifications of plasma platelet-activating factor (PAF)-acetylhydrolase/PAF system activity in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronically infects about 200 million individuals worldwide and leads to severe liver and lymphatic diseases. HCV circulates in the serum, associated with apoB-containing lipoproteins. Platelet-activating factor (PAF), a pro-inflammatory mediator, is mainly modulated by plasma PAF-acetylhydrolase (pPAF-AH), associated with ApoB100-containing low-density lipoproteins (LDL). The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential effects of chronic HCV infection on the PAF/pPAF-AH system. HCV-RNA was detected in plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and liver samples. Plasma PAF levels, pPAF-AH activity, ApoB100 serum titres and pPAF-AH mRNA levels in cultured macrophages were determined. Plasma PAF levels were significantly higher and pPAF-AH activity was significantly lower in HCV patients than in controls. No significant modifications of pPAF-AH mRNA in macrophages or in ApoB100 values were observed in HCV patients compared with controls. Patients who cleared HCV after antiviral treatment showed a complete restoration of pPAF-AH activity and significant decrease of PAF levels during the follow-up. No data exist about the PAF/pPAF-AH system behaviour during HCV infection. This study shows that in HCV patients modifications of pPAF-AH activity/PAF levels take place and that HCV clearance restored pPAF-AH activity. This suggests that circulating viral particles play a role in PAF/pPAF-AH system modifications and such an alteration could be involved in HCV-related damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Center for the Study of Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses MASVE and Higher Education Research and Transfer Center DENOTHE, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caini
authors.forename: C Tosti
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giannelli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gragnani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petrarca
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Solazzo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Laffi
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Zignego
mesh_terms: D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053299:Apolipoprotein B-100 / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000254:growth & development*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014766:Viremia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D053299:Apolipoprotein B-100; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase