HCV and the hepatic lipid pathway as a potential treatment target

• Published in: Journal of hepatology 2011-12, Vol.55 (6), p.1428-1440
• Main Authors: Bassendine, Margaret F, Sheridan, David A, Felmlee, Daniel J, Bridge, Simon H, Toms, Geoffrey L, Neely, R. Dermot G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antiviral agents; Apolipoproteins A - metabolism; Apolipoproteins B - metabolism; Apolipoproteins E - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Cholesterol; Chronic; Chylomicrons - metabolism; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Hepacivirus - metabolism; Hepacivirus - pathogenicity; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis C - metabolism; Hepatitis C - therapy; Hepatitis C - virology; Human viral diseases; Humans; Hypolipidemic Agents - therapeutic use; Infectious diseases; Lipid Metabolism - drug effects; Lipoproteins; Lipoproteins, VLDL - metabolism; Liver - metabolism; Medical sciences; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Models, Biological; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Triglycerides; Viral diseases; Viral hepatitis; VLDL
• ISSN: 0168-8278; 1600-0641
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2011.06.004

Atherosclerosis has been described as a liver disease of the heart [1] . The liver is the central regulatory organ of lipid pathways but since dyslipidaemias are major contributors to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes rather than liver disease, research in this area has not been a major focus for hepatologists. Virus–host interaction is a continuous co-evolutionary process [2] involving the host immune system and viral escape mechanisms [3] . One of the strategies HCV has adopted to escape immune clearance and establish persistent infection is to make use of hepatic lipid pathways. This review aims to: • update the hepatologist on lipid metabolism • review the evidence that HCV exploits hepatic lipid pathways to its advantage • discuss approaches to targeting host lipid pathways as adjunctive therapy.