Vitamin D Metabolites Inhibit Hepatitis C Virus and Modulate Cellular Gene Expression

Gene expression and hepatitis C virus infection

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease, with about 170 million people infected worldwide. Up to 70% of patients will have persistent infection after inoculation, making this disease a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The severity of disease varies widely, from asymptomatic chronic infection to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Since the discovery of...

Hepatitis C virus and skin

Nowadays viral hepatitis is one of the most common and important causes of chronic liver disorders in the world. Extrahepatic manifestations of viral hepatitis consist a main part of the disease. The main viruses causing hepatitis include Hepatitis A, B and C viruses. Herein common skin manifestations in hepatitis C virus (HCV) are discussed. Chronic hepatitis causes skin disorders both directl...

Hepatitis C Virus and Vaccine Development

The prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is approximately 3% around the world. This virus causes chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The effectiveness of interferon-α and ribavirin therapy is about 50% and is associated with significant toxicity and cost. Hence, generating new vaccines or drugs is an obligation. However, there is no vaccine available for clinical u...

Change in Cellular Gene Expression by Hepatitis B virus (HBV)

Vitamin D binding protein gene polymorphisms and baseline vitamin D levels as predictors of antiviral response in chronic hepatitis C.

UNLABELLED Vitamin D deficiency seems to predict the unsuccessful achievement of sustained viral response (SVR) after antiviral treatment in hepatitis C virus (HCV) difficult-to-treat genotypes. Vitamin D binding protein (GC) gene polymorphisms are known to influence vitamin D levels. This study was performed to assess whether the interaction between basal circulating vitamin D and the GC polym...