Different Signaling Pathways in Patients with Hepatitis B and C

Although both diseases can cause liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the clinical manifestations of chronic hepatitis B and C differ in several ways -- not all of which are completely understood.

As reported in the November 2006 issue of Hepatology, Japanese researchers conducted a study of signaling pathways associated with chronic HBV and HCV infection.

Using a cDNA microarray consisting of 9614 clones selected from 256,550 tags of hepatic serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) libraries, they compared gene expression profiles of liver tissue from 24 chronic hepatitis B and 23 chronic hepatitis C. For 16 patients, laser capture micro-dissection was used to isolate hepatocytes from liver lobules and infiltrating lymphoid cells from the portal area for gene expression analysis.

Results

Gene expression was correlated more with the infecting virus than with any other clinical parameters such as histological stage or disease activity.

Pro-apoptotic and DNA repair responses were predominant in chronic hepatitis B, with p53 and 14-3-3 interacting genes playing an important role.

In contrast, inflammatory and anti-apoptotic phenotypes were predominant in chronic hepatitis C.

Conclusion

The researchers explained that, "These differences would evoke different oncogenic factors in chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C," and added that, "The results might be useful in guiding therapeutic strategies to prevent the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in cases of chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C."

12/01/06

Reference
M Honda, T Yamashita, T Ueda, and others. Different signaling pathways in the livers of patients with chronic hepatitis B or chronic hepatitis C. Hepatology 44(5): 1122-1138. November 2006.