Use this URL to cite or link to this record in EThOS: https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.659158
Title: The role of stromal cells in hepatitis C virus infection
Author: Galsinh, Sukhdeep Kaur
ISNI:       0000 0004 5358 9509
Awarding Body: University of Birmingham
Current Institution: University of Birmingham
Date of Award: 2015
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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.
Supervisor: Not available Sponsor: Not available
Qualification Name: Thesis (Ph.D.) Qualification Level: Doctoral
EThOS ID: uk.bl.ethos.659158  DOI: Not available
Keywords: QR355 Virology ; RC Internal medicine
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