title: High serum palmitic acid is associated with low antiviral effects of interferon-based therapy for hepatitis C virus.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection alters fatty acid synthesis and metabolism in association with HCV replication. The present study examined the effect of serum fatty acid composition on interferon (IFN)-based therapy. Fifty-five patients with HCV were enrolled and received IFN-based therapy. Patient characteristics, laboratory data (including fatty acids), and viral factors that could be associated with the anti-HCV effects of IFN-based therapy were evaluated. The effects of individual fatty acids on viral replication and IFN-based therapy were also examined in an in-vitro system. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the level of serum palmitic acid before treatment and HCV genotype were significant predictors for rapid virological response (RVR), early virological response (EVR), and sustained virological response (SVR). High levels of palmitic acid inhibited the anti-HCV effects of IFN-based therapy. HCV replication assays confirmed the inhibitory effects of palmitic acid on anti-HCV therapy. The concentration of serum palmitic acid is an independent predictive factor for RVR, EVR, and SVR in IFN-based antiviral therapy. These results suggest that the effect of IFN-based antiviral therapy in patients with HCV infection might be enhanced by treatment that modulates palmitic acid levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime 791-0295, Japan.
authors.forename: Teruki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyake
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hiasa
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirooka
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tokumoto
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Furukawa
authors.forename: Teruhisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Teru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kumagi
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyaoka
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Bunzo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Matsuura
authors.forename: Morikazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onji
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019308:Palmitic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult; D000095022:Interferon Lambda
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins; D019308:Palmitic Acid; D012254:Ribavirin; C000624353:interferon-lambda, human; D000095022:Interferon Lambda