Steatosis, liver injury, and hepatocarcinogenesis in hepatitis C viral infection.

In addition to the link with development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with several hepatic and extrahepatic manifestations. A role of hepatic steatosis in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C has been shown, implying hepatitis C as a metabolic disease. Furthermore, recent epidemiological studies have suggested a linkage between insulin resistance and chronic HCV infection. In addition to the data indicating the presence of lipid metabolism disturbance and insulin resistance in the cohort of chronic hepatitis C patients, we found evidence showing the association between these two conditions and HCV infection using mice transgenic for the HCV core gene. These mice develop HCC late in life after the phase of hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance. The nonappearance of both steatosis and HCC in HCV core gene transgenic mice that are null for the proteasome activator 28gamma implies a close relationship between lipid metabolism disturbance and hepatocarcinogenesis. Also, the core protein is shown to bind with retinoid X receptor (RXR)-alpha, resulting in the upregulation of some lipid metabolism enzymes, including cellular retinol binding protein II and acyl-CoA oxidase. In addition, the persistent activation of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)-alpha has recently been found in the liver of HCV core gene transgenic mice, yielding dramatic changes in lipid metabolism and hepatocyte proliferation, including HCC development. These results would provide a clue for further understanding of the role of lipid metabolism in pathogenesis of HCV infection, including liver injury and hepatocarcinogenesis.