Role of lipid infiltration of hepatocytes in the morphogenesis of chronic hepatitis C.

Immunohistochemical and PCR analysis of the structure of lipid-containing hepatocytes and replication of chronic hepatitis C viral particles revealed no positive correlation between the presence of HCV RNA in blood specimens, number of infected hepatocytes (by expression of HCV NS3Ag) with clinical biochemical parameters and intensity of structural changes in biopsy specimens. Small-vesicular subcytolemmal lipid infiltration of hepatocytes was detected, presumably associated with hepatitis C virus replication phase. Characteristic subcytolemmal location of the lipid droplets can reflect their involvement in virus transport from the cell and indicate a virus-induced nature of lipid metabolism disorders.