To clarify the morphology of hepatitis C virus (HCV), an indirect immunogold electron microscopic study was carried out on two plasma samples with high HCV RNA titres using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies specific to the putative HCV envelope protein. Spherical virus-like particles, 55 to 65 nm in diameter with spike-like projections, were found in 1.14 to 1.16 g/ml fractions after sucrose density gradient centrifugation. These particles were found only in HCV-infected blood donors and had morphological features similar to those of flaviviruses. Moreover, these particles specifically reacted with the polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies to the putative HCV envelope protein. This is the first known report in which the morphology of the HCV particle is clearly shown.

Glypican-3 (GPC3) is an onco-fetal antigen that is overexpressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and is only expressed in the placenta and embryonic liver among normal tissues. Previously, we identified an HLA-A2-restricted GPC3 [144][145][146][147][148][149][150][151][152] (FVGEFFTDV) peptide that can induce GPC3-reactive CTLs without inducing autoimmunity in HLA-A2 transgenic mice. In this study, we carried out a phase I clinical trial of HLA-A2-restricted GPC3 144-152 peptide vaccine in 14 patients with advanced HCC. Immunological responses were analyzed by ex vivo c-interferon enzyme-linked immunospot assay. The frequency of GPC3 144-152 peptide-specific CTLs after vaccination (mean, 96; range, 5-441) was significantly larger than that before vaccination (mean, 6.5; range, 0-43) (P < 0.01). An increase in the GPC3 144-152 peptide-specific CTL frequency was observed in 12 (86%) of 14 patients after vaccination. Additionally, there was a significant correlation between the maximum value of GPC3 144-152 peptide-specific CTLs after vaccination and the dose of the peptide injected (P = 0.0166, r = 0.665). Moreover, we established several GPC3 144-152 peptide-specific CTL clones from PBMCs of patients vaccinated with GPC3 144-152 peptide by single cell sorting using Dextramer and CD107a antibody. These CTL clones had high avidity (the recognition efficiency showing 50% cytotoxicity was 10 )10 or 10 )11 M) and could recognize HCC cell lines expressing GPC3 in an HLA-class I-restricted manner. These results suggest that GPC3 144-152 peptide vaccine can induce high avidity CTLs capable of killing HCC cells expressing GPC3. This trial was registered with University Hospital Medical Information Network number 000001395. (Cancer Sci 2011; 102: 918-925)

No abstract

The Levovist contrast study is a useful screening examination which picks up NASH among fatty liver patients.

No abstract