TRIM22, a tripartite-motif (TRIM) protein, is upregulated upon interferon alpha (IFNa) administration to hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients. However, the physiological role of TRIM22 upregulation remains unclear. Here, we describe a potential antiviral function of TRIM22's targeting of the HCV NS5A protein. NS5A is important for HCV replication and for resistance to IFNa therapy. During the first 24 h following the initiation of IFNa treatment, upregulation of TRIM22 in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of HCV patients correlated with a decrease in viral titer. This phenomenon was confirmed in the hepatocyte-derived cell line Huh-7, which is highly permissive for HCV infection. TRIM22 over-expression inhibited HCV replication, and Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of TRIM22 diminished IFNa-induced anti-HCV function. Furthermore, we determined that TRIM22 ubiquitinates NS5A in a concentration-dependent manner. In summary, our results suggest that TRIM22 upregulation is associated with HCV decline during IFNa treatment and plays an important role in controlling HCV replication in vitro.

HAdV-56 is a new recombinant type isolated from epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) patients and has been sporadically isolated in Japan several times. Here, an outbreak of EKC in the city of Dalian, China involving a large number of workers in two factories was reported; this was the first outbreak of EKC associated with HAdV-56 worldwide.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections spontaneously clear in approximately 15–45% of infected individuals. Factors which influence spontaneous HCV clearance remain to be identified. The purpose of the present study was to identify variables associated with spontaneous HCV clearance in a referred population of Chinese patients. The prevalence of host, viral, and environmental factors known to influence the outcome of HCV infections was compared in 92 HCV spontaneous clearance subjects and 318 HCV persistent infection subjects. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify those factors associated with spontaneous HCV clearance. In univariate analysis, female gender, a history of icteric hepatitis, serologic evidence of concurrent HBV infection, and rs12979860 CC genotype were positively associated with spontaneous HCV clearance, while alcohol consumption was negatively associated with clearance. In multivariate analysis, female gender, a history of icteric hepatitis, concurrent HBV infection, and rs12979860 CC genotype remained independent variables associated with spontaneous HCV clearance. Spontaneous HCV clearance is more likely to occur in females, subjects with a history of icteric hepatitis, HBV coinfections, and those with the rs12979860 CC genotype.

Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is commonly associated with a disturbance of glucose metabolism. However, there have been conflicting reports on whether the clearance of the HCV may be followed by changes of serum blood glucose and insulin resistance. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of HCV and antiviral treatment on serum glucose levels and other glucose metabolism parameters. Methods A retrospective analysis of 306 HCV-infected patients was performed. Fasting serum blood glucose (FBG) levels in these patients were compared with that of 325 healthy individuals. Serum parameters of glucose metabolism were measured in 183 patients with chronic hepatitis C at baseline, at the end of interferon α-2b plus ribavirin treatment, and at 24 weeks post-treatment. Results Patients with HCV infection had significantly higher FBG level than healthy controls (5.57 ± 0.74 vs. 5.11 ± 0.83 mmol/l, P < 0.001). After antiviral treatment, we found a significant reduction in FBG levels regardless of the outcome of treatment. However, after stopping treatment the serum FBG levels were significantly elevated in the sustained virological response (SVR) and non-responder groups, and maintained high level until week 24 post-treatment. In both groups, the levels of serum FBG after 24 weeks post-treatment were still lower than pre-treatment levels. In sustained responders, fasting insulin ( P = 0.007), C-peptide ( P < 0.001) and HOMA-IR ( P < 0.001) significantly decreased, and the insulin sensitivity index (ISI) increased ( P < 0.001) at the end of the treatment comparing with pre-treatment levels, while no significant difference was observed in non-responder group. HOMA-β values were increased in both groups at the end of treatment (both P < 0.001). Conclusion The total serum FBG level in HCV infected patients was higher than that in healthy controls. Clearance of HCV was associated with reduced glucose and improved insulin resistance.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection greatly increases the risk of nephropathy. In this observational study, we aimed to explore the relationship between viral hepatitis infection and chronic kidney disease (CKD), identify risk factors, and determine the effect of antiviral treatment on CKD in Chinese patients with chronic HCV infection. A total of 2,435 study subjects were enrolled and divided into four groups: the HCV infection, HBV infection, HBV and HCV co-infection, and uninfected control groups. Of these, 207 patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) were given standard dual therapy [subcutaneous injection of recombinant interferon (IFN)-α2b and oral ribavirin (RBV)] for 48 weeks. We found that the prevalence of CKD gradually increased with age in all groups and was significantly increased in patients 60 years or older. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that persistent HCV infection was significantly associated with CKD [odds ratio (OR), 1.33; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06–1.66; P = 0.013], whereas there was no significant link between CKD and spontaneous HCV clearance (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 0.79–1.90; P = 0.364), HBV infection (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.44–1.19; P = 0.201), or HBV/HCV co-infection (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 0.81–2.40; P = 0.234). Notably, after anti-HCV therapy, the serum creatinine concentration was significantly decreased (76.0, 75.5–79.4 μmol/L) from the pretreatment level (95.0, 93.0–97.2 μmol/L), both in patients who showed an end of treatment virological response (ETVR) and those who did not (P < 0.001). Also, in both the ETVR and non-ETVR groups, the percentages of patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥90 ml/min/1.73 m2 increased significantly (P < 0.001), whereas the percentages of those with an eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 significantly decreased (P < 0.001). In conclusion, persistent HCV infection was independently associated with CKD, and antiviral treatment with IFN plus RBV can improve renal function and reverse CKD in HCV-infected patients.