LDL
Receptor Levels, Alcohol Consumption, and HCV Viral Load in Hepatitis C Patients
Alcohol
consumption has a major impact on the natural history of chronic
hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, although the underlying mechanisms are
still poorly understood. As
reported in the September 2006 Journal of Viral Hepatitis, French researchers
conducted a study to evaluate the impact of alcohol use on HCV
viral load and expression of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and CD81.
Past research has shown that HCV uses LDL receptors to enter cells, suggesting
that increased receptor expression might facilitate viral replication. The
study included 38 consecutive HCV-infected patients classified into 3 groups: 
Group 1 (n = 18) consumed 10 grams (g) of alcohol or less per day;
Group 2 (n = 8) consumed 30 g or less per day;
Group 3 consumed more than 30 g per day.
Receptor
expression was measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells by flow cytometry
analysis, and in the liver by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results
Serum HCV RNA and total HCV core antigen levels were significantly correlated.
Levels of both HCV RNA and core antigen were higher in Group 3 compared with Group
1, but the difference was not statistically significant.
In peripheral blood cells, alcohol consumption had no effect on expression of
proposed HCV receptors except for CD81, which was up-regulated on monocytes in
Group 2 patients.
In the liver, HCV viral load and levels of LDLR transcripts were significantly
higher in Group 3 compared with Group 1.
Remarkably, according to the authors, a significant positive correlation was found
between LDLR transcripts and HCV RNA levels (RR = 0.83; P < 0.0001).
In vitro experiments suggested that the effect of alcohol on LDLR expression was
indirectly mediated by both tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta.
Conclusion In
conclusion, the authors wrote, "this study is the first to support a role
for LDLR in the natural infection by HCV in man."
9/22/06
Reference
M
Carriere, A R Rosenberg, F Conti, and others. Low-density lipoprotein receptor
transcripts correlates with liver hepatitis C virus RNA in patients with alcohol
consumption. Journal of Viral Hepatitis 13(9): 633-642. September 2006.
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