Hepatitis: Brain endothelial cells support HCV entry and replication.

摘要

Nicola Fletcher, Jane McKeating and colleagues have demonstrated that human brain endothelial cells express all the main receptors required for HCV entry. "This is the first report that cells of the central nervous system (CNS) support HCV entry and replication in vitro" says McKeating.Chronic HCV infection causes progressive liver disease and can also be associated with various CNS abnormalities. To date, however, few studies have investigated the mechanisms by which these abnormalities arise, that is, whether they are a result of impaired hepatic function or virus replication in the CNS. Thus, the researchers quantified HCV RNA levels in the brain and liver of 10 individuals infected with HCV. They also investigated the expression of HCV entry receptors in the brain, and conducted in vitro studies to ascertain whether two brain-derived endothelial cell lines could support HCV infection.