Up-regulation of Plasma Hexosylceramide (d18: 1/18: 1) Contributes to Genotype 2 Virus Replication in Chronic Hepatitis C: A 20-Year Cohort Study.
The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between plasma sphingolipids and hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients.A cohort of 120 treatment-naïve CHC patients was included. Liver biopsies and the Scheuer scoring system were used to assess hepatic inflammatory activity. Blood biochemical indicators, HCV-RNA load, and immunological markers were also measured. Forty-four plasma sphingolipids were identified and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.The hexosylceramide (HexCer) (d18:1/18:1) level was significantly different between patients with a low HCV load (<10 IU/mL) and a high HCV load (≥10 IU/mL), and it was positively correlated with the HCV-RNA load (r = 0.337, P = 0.001) in CHC patients. Additionally, the plasma HexCer (d18:1/18:1) level (odds ratio 1.302, 95% confidence interval 1.129-1.502) was an independent factor for a high HCV-RNA load. For patients with hepatic inflammation grade ≤2 or HCV genotype 2, HexCer (d18:1/18:1) was independently related to a high HCV-RNA load.Plasma HexCer (d18:1/18:1) might be involved in the high viral replication level in chronic HCV infection, especially for CHC patients with genotype 2.
From the Artificial Liver Center, Beijing YouAn Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (J-YZ, ML, FR, J-YZ, D-DB, YC, Z-PD, S-JZ); State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medica Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China (FQ, J-LZ); and Institute of Infectious Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China (J-FL).
Jin-Yan
JY
Zhang
Feng
F
Qu
Jun-Feng
JF
Li
Mei
M
Liu
Feng
F
Ren
Jing-Yun
JY
Zhang
Dan-Dan
DD
Bian
Yu
Y
Chen
Zhong-Ping
ZP
Duan
Jin-Lan
JL
Zhang
Su-Jun
SJ
Zheng
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013109:Sphingomyelins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D019562:Viral Load; D014779:Virus Replication
D015415:Biomarkers; D012367:RNA, Viral; D013109:Sphingomyelins