The role of stromal cells in Hepatitis C virus infection

Galsinh, Sukhdeep Kaur (2015). The role of stromal cells in Hepatitis C virus infection. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of global morbidity, causing long-term pathologies, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. While hepatocytes are the major site of viral replication, the liver contains multiple non-parenchymal cells that regulate the hepatic microenvironment and may affect HCV infection \(in\) \(vivo\). Current understanding of the role of non-parenchymal cells in HCV infection is limited. Therefore, this project aimed to establish co-culture systems that allowed investigations into interactions between hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cells, and how these interactions affected HCV infection.

The results showed that in co-culture, activated liver myofibroblasts (aLMFs) negatively regulate HCV entry, replication and spread of infection in a cell contact dependent manner. Soluble factors, including extracellular matrix proteins, and common antiviral pathways did not induce this effect. Instead, we found that aLMFmodulated cell-contact affected hepatocyte membrane receptor dynamics, reducing the mobility of the HCV receptor, CD81, impairing viral entry and replication. In addition, we found that aLMF surface expressed VAP-1 also significantly reduced virus infection independently of receptor modulation. These findings greatly improved our understanding of how the interactions between hepatic cells affect HCV, highlighting the importance of non-parenchymal cells in mediating infection in the liver microenvironment.

Type of Work: Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)
Award Type: Doctorates > Ph.D.
Supervisor(s):
Supervisor(s)EmailORCID
McKeating, Jane A.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Buckley, Christopher DUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Licence:
College/Faculty: Colleges (2008 onwards) > College of Medical & Dental Sciences
School or Department: School of Immunity and Infection
Funders: None/not applicable
Subjects: Q Science > QR Microbiology > QR355 Virology
R Medicine > RC Internal medicine
URI: http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint/6109

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