ArticleGastroenterology2012
Hepatitis C virus infects the endothelial cells of the blood-brain barrier.
Article in Gastroenterology, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT02745132 (Personalized Medicine in HCV Infection), which is not on this map. Cited by 110 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Personalized Medicine in HCV Infection: Cognitive Impairments and Brain Anomalies in Chronic Hepatitis C Infected Individuals. Characterization and Potential Reversibility With Direct Antiviral Agents.
Who cites it
110 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 241 citations in OpenAlex.
- Bacterial, viral, and fungal infection-related risk of Parkinson's disease: Meta-analysis of cohort and case-control studies.Brain and behavior · 2020Pooled it
- Impact of infection on risk of Parkinson's disease: a quantitative assessment of case-control and cohort studies.Journal of neurovirology · 2019Pooled it
- Depressive symptoms in chronic hepatitis C are associated with plasma apolipoprotein E deficiency.Metabolic brain disease · 2014Trial
- Characterization of an immunocompetent, young adult mouse model for studying chikungunya virus neuroinvasion and central nervous system infection.PLoS pathogens · 2026Article
- Divergent Inflammatory Profiles but No Predictive Biomarkers of Psychiatric Sequelae After Viral Infection: A 12-Month Cohort Study.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Article
- Pathogenic breaches: how viruses compromise blood-tissue barriers.Tissue barriers · 2026Review
- Association of viral RNAs in the choroid plexus with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia and evidence for the hepatitis C virus involvement in neuropathology.Translational psychiatry · 2025Article
- Viruses and neurodegeneration: a growing concern.Journal of translational medicine · 2025Review
- Review of the mechanism of infection induced cerebral small vessel disease.Frontiers in immunology · 2025Review
- Is There such a Thing as Post-Viral Depression?: Implications for Precision Medicine.Biomolecules & therapeutics · 2024Review
- Review
- Neuroimmune modulation in liver pathophysiology.Journal of neuroinflammation · 2024Review
- Article
- CNS Viral Infections-What to Consider for Improving Drug Treatment: A Plea for Using Mathematical Modeling Approaches.CNS drugs · 2024Review
- Unraveling the Impact of Extracellular Vesicle-Depleted Serum on Endothelial Cell Characteristics over Time.International journal of molecular sciences · 2024Article
- Teriflunomide Promotes Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity by Upregulating Claudin-1 via the Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway in Multiple Sclerosis.Molecular neurobiology · 2024Article
- Article
- Understanding the link between neurotropic viruses, BBB permeability, and MS pathogenesis.Journal of neurovirology · 2024Review
- Understanding the relationship between HCV infection and progression of kidney disease.Frontiers in microbiology · 2024Review
- Review
50 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
20 authors at 9 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
Abstract
BACKGROUND &
aimsHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection leads to progressive liver disease and is associated with a variety of extrahepatic syndromes, including central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities. However, it is unclear whether such cognitive abnormalities are a function of systemic disease, impaired hepatic function, or virus infection of the CNS.
methodsWe measured levels of HCV RNA and expression of the viral entry receptor in brain tissue samples from 10 infected individuals (and 3 uninfected individuals, as controls) and human brain microvascular endothelial cells by using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunochemical and confocal imaging analyses. HCV pseudoparticles and cell culture-derived HCV were used to study the ability of endothelial cells to support viral entry and replication.
resultsUsing quantitative polymerase chain reaction, we detected HCV RNA in brain tissue of infected individuals at significantly lower levels than in liver samples. Brain microvascular endothelia and brain endothelial cells expressed all of the recognized HCV entry receptors. Two independently derived brain endothelial cell lines, hCMEC/D3 and HBMEC, supported HCV entry and replication. These processes were inhibited by antibodies against the entry factors CD81, scavenger receptor BI, and claudin-1; by interferon; and by reagents that inhibit NS3 protease and NS5B polymerase. HCV infection promotes endothelial permeability and cellular apoptosis.
conclusionsHuman brain endothelial cells express functional receptors that support HCV entry and replication. Virus infection of the CNS might lead to HCV-associated neuropathologies.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.