Modeling hepatitis C virus kinetics during liver transplantation reveals the role of the liver in virus clearance. Journal Article


Authors: Shekhtman, L; Navasa, M; Sansone, N; Crespo, G; Subramanya, G; Chung, TL; Cardozo-Ojeda, EF; Pérez-Del-Pulgar, S; Perelson, AS; Cotler, SJ; Forns, X; Uprichard, SL; Dahari, H
Article Title: Modeling hepatitis C virus kinetics during liver transplantation reveals the role of the liver in virus clearance.
Abstract: While the liver, specifically hepatocytes, are widely accepted as the main source of hepatitis C virus (HCV) production, the role of the liver/hepatocytes in clearance of circulating HCV remains unknown. Frequent HCV kinetic data were recorded and mathematically modeled from 5 liver-transplant patients throughout the anhepatic (absence of liver) phase and for 4 hours post-reperfusion. During the anhepatic phase, HCV remained at pre-anhepatic levels (n=3) or declined (n=2) with t~1h. Immediately post-reperfusion, virus declined in a biphasic manner in 4 patients consisting of a rapid decline (t=5min) followed by a slower decline (t=67min). Consistent with the majority of patients in the anhepatic phase, when we monitored HCV clearance at 37°C from culture medium in the absence/presence of chronically infected hepatoma cells that were inhibited from secreting HCV, the HCV t in cell culture was longer in the absence of chronically HCV-infected cells. The results suggest that the liver plays a major role in the clearance of circulating HCV and that hepatocytes may be involved.
Journal Title: eLife
ISSN: 2050-084X; 2050-084X
Publisher: Unknown  
Date Published: 2021