Abstract
The ratio of stearic to oleic acids, i.e. the fatty acid saturation index, in red blood cell membranes was assayed in 60 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection before and after interferon-alpha therapy. Results were compared with 20 healthy controls. Hepatitis C virus titre was also assayed before and after interferon-alpha therapy. Within 2-5 months following interferon-alpha therapy, a significant inverse correlation was observed between saturation index and hepatitis C virus load. We conclude that hepatitis C virus infection enhances the degree of desaturation of 18-carbon fatty acids and that interferon-alpha is involved in their metabolism by increasing the degree of saturation and subsequent decrease in membrane fluidity.
Publication types
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Clinical Trial
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Controlled Clinical Trial
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
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Biomarkers
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Case-Control Studies
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Chromatography
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Drug Therapy, Combination
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Erythrocyte Membrane* / chemistry
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Erythrocyte Membrane* / drug effects
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Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy*
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Hepatitis C, Chronic / metabolism*
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Hepatitis C, Chronic / virology
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Humans
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Interferon-alpha / pharmacology
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Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use*
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Membrane Fluidity / drug effects
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Membrane Fluidity / physiology
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Oleic Acids* / analysis
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Oleic Acids* / metabolism
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Predictive Value of Tests
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Prognosis
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Ribavirin / therapeutic use
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Severity of Illness Index
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Stearic Acids* / analysis
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Stearic Acids* / metabolism
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Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase / drug effects
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Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase / metabolism
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Time Factors
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Treatment Outcome
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Viral Load
Substances
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Antiviral Agents
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Biomarkers
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Interferon-alpha
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Oleic Acids
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Stearic Acids
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Ribavirin
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Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase