Extrahepatic replication of HCV

Abstract

Cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma are the prototypic complications of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the liver. However, HCV also causes extrahepatic manifestations, suggesting that HCV may infect other organs. In this chapter, we will first show the correlation between HCV infection and a variety of extrahepatic diseases by epidemiological investigations. Furthermore, to support the possible extrahepatic replication of HCV, the detection of HCV RNA in a number of organs and the accompanying genetic changes of viral sequences will be discussed. Finally, isolation of a lymphotropic HCV strain from B cell lymphoma and the consequence of HCV infection of lymphoid cells, providing unequivocal evidence for extrahepatic replication of HCV, will be described. We endeavor to summarize the published works and our own findings to highlight the evidence of the extrahepatic replication of HCV, which reveals an insight into HCV persistence.