title: Inverse correlation between plasma oxysterol and LDL-cholesterol levels in hepatitis C virus-infected patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis C virus infection is characterised by enhanced oxidative stress, which can be measured quantitatively by plasma oxysterol concentration. These molecules may affect lipid metabolism through the activation of Liver X Receptors. Hepatitis C virus exploits host lipid metabolism to facilitate its replication and diffusion. In our study we aimed to evaluate and highlight the potential pathogenetic role of oxysterols, 7-ketocholesterol and 7-β-hydroxycholesterol, in hepatitis C virus-related lipid dysmetabolism.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed in 42 patients with chronic hepatitis C (93% genotype 1b) and 38 non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients. Plasma oxysterols 7-ketocholesterol and 7-β-hydroxycholesterol were determined by isotope dilution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry revealed higher 7-ketocholesterol (71.2 ± 77.3 vs 30.4 ± 14.5; p<0.005) and 7-β-hydroxycholesterol (23.7 ± 20.6 vs 11.5 ± 4.9; p<0.001) plasma levels in hepatitis C virus patients. Furthermore, multivariate regression analysis highlighted an inverse independent correlation between high oxysterol levels and low low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p=0.01 for 7-β-hydroxycholesterol; p=0.02 for 7-ketocholesterol) in the hepatitis C virus group; in contrast, the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease group showed a direct correlation between oxysterol levels and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (p<0.001 for 7-β-hydroxycholesterol; p=0.002 for 7-ketocholesterol).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These different correlations reveal profound differences in lipid dysmetabolism between chronic hepatitis C and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Public Health, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arciello
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Petta
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Leoni
authors.forename: Gino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iannucci
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Labbadia
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cammà
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Craxì
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Balsano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000502:physiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006888:Hydroxycholesterols / Q000097:blood*; D007653:Ketocholesterols / Q000097:blood*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D018384:Oxidative Stress
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006888:Hydroxycholesterols; D007653:Ketocholesterols; C011724:cholest-5-en-3 beta,7 alpha-diol; C003001:7-ketocholesterol