Morphological changes in intracellular lipid droplets induced by different hepatitis C virus genotype core sequences and relationship with steatosis†

• DOI: 10.1002/hep.22288
• Publication Date: 2008-06-20T20:02:39Z
• Authors: Aurélie Piodi; Philippe Chouteau; Hervé Lerat; Christophe Hézode; Jean‐Michel Pawlo...
• Keywords: Steatosis; Lipid droplet

Hepatocellular steatosis is common in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Steatosis can be considered as a true cytopathic lesion induced by C virus (HCV) genotype 3, suggesting that one or more viral proteins produced during 3 infection are involved the steatogenic process, while same other genotypes not. We examined vitro interactions between lipid droplets and full-length core protein isolated from HCV 3a infection, without steatosis, steatosis-free infected 1b. also morphological changes according to presence of vivo. Core processing signal peptide peptidase was not affected sequence differences variants. showed both 1b binds tightly surface intracellular droplets. However, cells transfected contain neutral lipids droplets, large than sequences. This suggests protein-lipid droplet interaction could play role virus-induced steatosis. Importantly, we found no genetic functional HCV-induced Conclusion: and/or host factors development hepatocellular 3a. (HEPATOLOGY 2008;48:16–27.)