Hepatitis C virus RNA localization in human carotid plaques

Boddi, Maria; Abbate, Rosanna; Chellini, Benedetta; Giusti, Betti; Giannini, Carlo; Pratesi, Giovanni; Rossi, Luciana; Pratesi, Carlo; Gensini, Gian Franco; Paperetti, Laura; Zignego, Anna Linda

doi:10.1016/j.jcv.2009.10.005

« Previous Next »Journal of Clinical Virology
Volume 47, Issue 1 , Pages 72-75, January 2010

Hepatitis C virus RNA localization in human carotid plaques

Maria Boddi
- Clinica Medica Generale e Cardiologia, Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, University of Florence, Italy
Rosanna Abbate
- Thrombosis Centre, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence and Center for the Study at Molecular and Clinical Level of Chronic, Degenerative and Neoplastic Diseases to Develop Novel Therapies, University of Florence, Italy
Benedetta Chellini
- Clinica Medica Generale e Cardiologia, Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, University of Florence, Italy
Betti Giusti
- Thrombosis Centre, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence and Center for the Study at Molecular and Clinical Level of Chronic, Degenerative and Neoplastic Diseases to Develop Novel Therapies, University of Florence, Italy
Carlo Giannini
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 85, 50134 Florence, Italy
Giovanni Pratesi
- Unit of Vascular Surgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, University of Florence, Italy
Luciana Rossi
- Thrombosis Centre, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence and Center for the Study at Molecular and Clinical Level of Chronic, Degenerative and Neoplastic Diseases to Develop Novel Therapies, University of Florence, Italy
Carlo Pratesi
- Unit of Vascular Surgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, University of Florence, Italy
Gian Franco Gensini
- Clinica Medica Generale e Cardiologia, Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, University of Florence, Italy
- Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Centro S. Maria degli Ulivi, Firenze, Italy
Laura Paperetti
- Clinica Medica Generale e Cardiologia, Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, University of Florence, Italy
Anna Linda Zignego
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 85, 50134 Florence, Italy
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +39 055 4271077; +39 055 7947335.

Received 15 April 2009; received in revised form 8 September 2009; accepted 7 October 2009. published online 06 November 2009.

Abstract

Background

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has certain characteristics that enable it to play an important role in atherosclerosis. Some studies report its association with an increased risk of carotid artery plaque.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of HCV genomic sequences and replicative intermediates in plaque tissues.

Study Design

A cohort of consecutive, prospectively recruited patients with HCV infection and chronic ischemic heart disease from the Cardiology, Vascular Surgery and Hepatology Units of a University Hospital in Florence, Italy, were studied.

Results

Positive-strand HCV RNA was detected in seven carotid plaque tissues from anti-HCV-positive patients and was not detected in the nine carotid plaque tissues obtained from anti-HCV-negative patients. In three patients, HCV RNA was found in carotid plaque and not in serum. HCV replicative intermediates were detected in three plaque samples. Direct sequencing of HCV RNA from the plaque and serum showed HCV genotypes 2 (five cases) and 1 (two cases).

Conclusions

The novel finding of HCV RNA sequences in plaque tissue strongly suggests an active local infection. This in turn makes it conceivable that the virus may exert local action in carotid atherosclerosis.

Keywords: Hepatitis C virus, Carotid atherosclerosis, Plaque infection