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  • Title: Modifications of plasma platelet-activating factor (PAF)-acetylhydrolase/PAF system activity in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
    Author: Caini P, Guerra CT, Giannini C, Giannelli F, Gragnani L, Petrarca A, Solazzo V, Monti M, Laffi G, Zignego AL.
    Journal: J Viral Hepat; 2007 Jan; 14(1):22-8. PubMed ID: 17212640.
    Abstract:
    Hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronically infects about 200 million individuals worldwide and leads to severe liver and lymphatic diseases. HCV circulates in the serum, associated with apoB-containing lipoproteins. Platelet-activating factor (PAF), a pro-inflammatory mediator, is mainly modulated by plasma PAF-acetylhydrolase (pPAF-AH), associated with ApoB100-containing low-density lipoproteins (LDL). The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential effects of chronic HCV infection on the PAF/pPAF-AH system. HCV-RNA was detected in plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and liver samples. Plasma PAF levels, pPAF-AH activity, ApoB100 serum titres and pPAF-AH mRNA levels in cultured macrophages were determined. Plasma PAF levels were significantly higher and pPAF-AH activity was significantly lower in HCV patients than in controls. No significant modifications of pPAF-AH mRNA in macrophages or in ApoB100 values were observed in HCV patients compared with controls. Patients who cleared HCV after antiviral treatment showed a complete restoration of pPAF-AH activity and significant decrease of PAF levels during the follow-up. No data exist about the PAF/pPAF-AH system behaviour during HCV infection. This study shows that in HCV patients modifications of pPAF-AH activity/PAF levels take place and that HCV clearance restored pPAF-AH activity. This suggests that circulating viral particles play a role in PAF/pPAF-AH system modifications and such an alteration could be involved in HCV-related damage.
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