Role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in persistent inflammation after eradication of hepatitis C virus
Advisor(s)
Dr. Lucas Fass, Dr. Alyx Vogle, Dr. Zhibin Zhu, Dr. Miran Kim, and Dr. Costica Aloman, Department of Internal Medicine, Rush University Medical Center
Location
Room A115
Start Date
26-4-2019 10:05 AM
End Date
26-4-2019 10:20 AM
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a type of liver cancer, is the second leading cause of mortality by cancer worldwide. Advanced or chronic stages of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have exacerbated the lethal effects of HCC. Direct-acting antivirals and other interferon-free (IFN) therapies have successfully treated HCV. However, there is increasing evidence of patients who have received these treatments experiencing persistent hepatic inflammation and an increased risk of developing HCC. For 25-66% of patients, who developed HCC after being cleared of HCV, an increased level of IFNα mRNA is present compared to the amount observed prior to the HCV cure. Given that the main cellular sources of IFNα are the plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), the current study used immunohistochemical (IHC) staining on samples of explanted liver tissue to identify certain cell markers and characterize the hepatic microenvironment in patients with HCC and de novo HCC. The grand scheme of the study aims to clarify the role of pDCs in the pathogenesis of HCC, which could lead to novel targeted therapies against pDCs that may prevent the pathogenesis of HCC.
Role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in persistent inflammation after eradication of hepatitis C virus
Room A115
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a type of liver cancer, is the second leading cause of mortality by cancer worldwide. Advanced or chronic stages of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have exacerbated the lethal effects of HCC. Direct-acting antivirals and other interferon-free (IFN) therapies have successfully treated HCV. However, there is increasing evidence of patients who have received these treatments experiencing persistent hepatic inflammation and an increased risk of developing HCC. For 25-66% of patients, who developed HCC after being cleared of HCV, an increased level of IFNα mRNA is present compared to the amount observed prior to the HCV cure. Given that the main cellular sources of IFNα are the plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), the current study used immunohistochemical (IHC) staining on samples of explanted liver tissue to identify certain cell markers and characterize the hepatic microenvironment in patients with HCC and de novo HCC. The grand scheme of the study aims to clarify the role of pDCs in the pathogenesis of HCC, which could lead to novel targeted therapies against pDCs that may prevent the pathogenesis of HCC.