| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3315377 | Journal of Hepatology | 2008 | 8 Pages |
Background/AimsThe chemokine receptor CX3CR1 and its specific ligand fractalkine (CX3CL1) are known to modulate inflammatory and fibroproliferative diseases. Here we investigate the role of CX3CR1/fractalkine in HCV-induced liver fibrosis.MethodsA genotype analysis of CX3CR1 variants was performed in 211 HCV-infected patients. Hepatic expression of CX3CR1 was studied in HCV-infected livers and isolated liver cell populations by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. The effects of fractalkine on mRNA expression of profibrogenic genes were determined in isolated hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and CX3CR1 genotypes were related to intrahepatic TIMP-1 mRNA levels.ResultsThe intrahepatic mRNA expression of CX3CR1 correlates with the stage of HCV-induced liver fibrosis (P = 0.03). The CX3CR1 coding variant V249I is associated with advanced liver fibrosis, independent of the T280M variant (P = 0.009). CX3CR1 is present on primary HSC and fractalkine leads to a suppression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 mRNA in HSC (P = 0.03). Furthermore, CX3CR1 genotypes are associated with TIMP-1 mRNA expression in HCV-infected liver (P = 0.03).ConclusionsThe results identify the fractalkine receptor CX3CR1 as susceptibility a gene for hepatic fibrosis in HCV infection. The modulation of TIMP-1 expression by fractalkine and CX3CR1 genotypes provides functional support for the observed genotype–phenotype association.
