title: Impact of lipids and lipoproteins on hepatitis C virus infection and virus neutralization.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections represent a major global health problem. End-stage liver disease caused by chronic HCV infection is a major indication for liver transplantation. However, after transplantation the engrafted liver inevitably becomes infected by the circulating virus. Direct acting antivirals are not yet approved for use in liver transplant patients, and limited efficacy and severe side effects hamper the use of pegylated interferon combined with ribavirin in a post-transplant setting. Therefore, alternative therapeutic options need to be explored. Viral entry represents an attractive target for such therapeutic intervention. Understanding the mechanisms of viral entry is essential to define the viral and cellular factors involved. The HCV life cycle is dependent of and associated with lipoprotein physiology and the presence of lipoproteins has been correlated with altered antiviral efficacy of entry inhibitors. In this review, we summarise the current knowledge on how lipoprotein physiology influences the HCV life cycle. We focus especially on the influence of lipoproteins on antibodies that target HCV envelope proteins or antibodies that target the cellular receptors of the virus. This information can be particularly relevant for the prevention of HCV re-infection after liver transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Koen Vercauteren, Ahmed Atef Mesalam, Geert Leroux-Roels, Philip Meuleman, Center for Vaccinology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vercauteren
authors.affiliation: Koen Vercauteren, Ahmed Atef Mesalam, Geert Leroux-Roels, Philip Meuleman, Center for Vaccinology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ahmed Atef
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mesalam
authors.affiliation: Koen Vercauteren, Ahmed Atef Mesalam, Geert Leroux-Roels, Philip Meuleman, Center for Vaccinology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leroux-Roels
authors.affiliation: Koen Vercauteren, Ahmed Atef Mesalam, Geert Leroux-Roels, Philip Meuleman, Center for Vaccinology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Meuleman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014774:Virulence; D014775:Virus Activation; D053586:Virus Internalization / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins
keywords: Animal models; Antiviral therapy; Hepatitis; Lipids; Neutralisation