It has been suggested that hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be associated with beta-lipoprotein in human serum. According to this, the LDL receptor could promote endocytosis of such a virus. In the present study, we evaluated the changes in HCV viremia in a HCV positive patient with familial hypercholesterolemia, undergoing both selective (DALI System, Fresenius) and non-selective (plasma exchange) LDL apheresis. HCV-RNA levels did not decrease following selective LDL apheresis, on the contrary showed a random, odd variation pattern (from -35% to +72%). Conversely, plasma exchange steadily induced a drop in HCV viremia (-35/43%), to a lower extent than that of a totally intravascular plasmaprotein, i.e., alpha 2-macroglobulin (-53/54%). These data indicate that beta-lipoprotein may not function as a plasma carrier of HCV, at least in the present case. Moreover, a continuous, quantitatively unforeseeable circulation of HCV virions from the intravascular plasma compartment to other extravascular and intracellular sites, seems to occur during an apheresis session.

No abstract

Much experimental evidence shows that stroma-epithelium interactions in prostatic tissue are responsible for the growth, differentiation and secretory activity of this gland through the production of inductive and inhibiting factors. Tenniswood in particular has suggested the presence of a regulating mechanism based on the balancing of inductive stimuli. Previous research showed that the human prostatic epithelial line U285 we isolated reduces stromal growth through diffusible factors, which are associated with morphological and phenotypic changes. By studying the interactions of the epithelial line U285 and its supranatan with an immortalised human prostatic stromal line U763, the capacity of the epithelial line, and in particular its supranatan, to induce apoptosis in the stromal line was highlighted.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of mepartricin on the proliferation and morphology of U285 cells with those induced by suramin and finasteride, both substances which have been investigated previously. Proliferation was evaluated by the FRAME Cytotoxicity Test, exposing the cells to increasing doses of mepartricin, between 0.1 μg/ml and 5 μg/ml, from the moment of seeding for 24 hours. The morphology was evaluated by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The FRAME Test showed a statistically significant decrease (p<0.05) in proliferation at all times of observation and at all doses in those cultures exposed to mepartricin right from seeding. Those where treatment was given 24 hours later, only showed this decrease with the highest doses. SEM highlighted the reduced capacity of the cells to proliferate, confirming data from the FRAME Test. These results therefore indicate that mepartricin has an anti-proliferation effect both in the Lag phase and the logarithmic growth phase. This behaviour differs from that of suramin and finasteride, which have less marked effect on cellular growth.