title: Mechanisms of hepatitis C virus-related insulin resistance.
abstract: The hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been shown to have direct and/or indirect effects on glucose metabolism, leading to insulin resistance and, in predisposed individuals, type 2 diabetes. This is supported by several experimental, clinical and epidemiological data. The detailed molecular events leading to insulin resistance in HCV-infected patients are unclear. HCV infects primarily the liver and, to a very minor extent, mononuclear cells. Direct interactions between HCV products and the hepatocyte insulin signaling pathway have been reported by several authors. However, recent evidence supports the existence of a significant extrahepatic component of HCV-induced insulin resistance. Thus, the molecular pathogenesis of glucose metabolism disturbances observed in hepatitis C is much more complex than expected. The clinical management of such condition remains empirical.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine and Pathology and Immunology, Divisions of Gastroenterology and hepatology and of Clinical pathology, University Hospitals, University of Geneva Medical Center, 1, rue Michel-Servet, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland. Francesco.Negro@hcuge.ch
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Negro
mesh_terms: D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance