Hepatitis C Virus Infection Can Present with Metabolic Disease by Inducing Insulin Resistance

Although hepatitis C virus (HCV) targets the liver, it has become increasingly evident that HCV can induce diseases of many organs. Recently, much attention is drawn to metabolic disorders in HCV infection. First, hepatic steatosis and derangement in lipid metabolism have been found characteristic of HCV infection, and later on, a correlation was noted between HCV infection and diabetes as well as insulin resistance. We have demonstrated that HCV by itself can induce insulin resistance through disturbing the insulin signaling pathway by HCV proteins. The fact that HCV infection induces insulin resistance by the virus itself may influence the progression of chronic liver disease and open up novel therapeutic approaches. In conclusion, towards the future, HCV infection needs to be viewed not only as a liver disease but also as a metabolic disease.