Hepatocyte metabolic signalling and regulation of hbv expression

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1478-3231.2010.02423.x/full

very interesting study which confirms why simvastatin, lowering cholesterol drug and actos (diabetes 2 drug), have anti hbv activity lowering hbvdna, cancer risk, all this without problems of resistance and acting on all hbv mutants

conclusions:
The discovery of the mechanisms by which HBV is controlled by the hepatic metabolic milieu may broaden our understanding of the unique regulation of HBV expression and may also explain the mechanisms by which HBV induces liver pathologies. The emerging principle of the intimate link between HBV and liver metabolism can be further exploited for host-targeted therapeutic strategies.

[StephenCastlecrag]

Simvastatin is contraindicated in pregnancy and liver disease, according to Wikipedia. I also know that Cresor 40mg is not recommended for Asians. I would like to know why you believe simvastatin and or statin in geneal have ant-hbv activities? Have you heard of cases where statins cause acute liver failure in chronic hbv patients?

Cheers,

Stephen

[stef2011]

there are trials already i posted in the past, also the effect of sim on liver was reviwed by liver researchers and they said it has no toxicity the elevations of alt that can happen on few are due to a balance of lipids not toxicity because the alt elevation is transient and resolve itself

the only serious side effect of sim that can happen is muscle damage or mitocondrial discorder, very rare

statins cause acute liver failure in chronic hbv patients?
no never heard, statins have been used on cirrhosis patients (no more healthy liver left) and the results have been alt lowering and hcc prevention

the problem wth statins is that they are supercheap since generics from many years, some incompetent doctors try to say those things without trials to prove or studies to try to change sim with new patented drugs....
check for liver researchers and statins, the studies were from 2009 conferences and bader is the one studying sim for hbv and hcv.it is know sim has also an effect on immune system and is used on hcv with interferon and vitamin d to increase svr

the drugs not used yet are antidiabetes but researchers in florence, close to my hospital, said that they are very useful for HCC prevention or cure.avantia should not be used to to severe sides effects but actos should be safe engouh, in any case i suggest the use of sim with blood checks every month but not antidiabetes

[stef2011]

Statins Are "Remarkably Safe,"
http://archive.mail-list.com/hbv_research/message/20070620.061251.1adb6a8c.en.html

Statin and Diabetes Drug Show Activity against Hepatitis B Virus
http://archive.mail-list.com/hbv_research/message/20091204.135403.37fd5fc6.en.html

Simvastatin potentiates the anti-hepatitis B virus activity of FDA-approved nucleoside analogue
http://archive.mail-list.com/hbv_research/message/20100603.135550.e1051511.en.html

[StephenCastlecrag]

Many many thanks for the references. The one from Lancet is most re-assuring. The message I get is that at very high dosage of Statin, maybe liver function should be monitored for liver patients. This agreed with my doctor's assurance about Crestor at 10mg. The case of acute liver failure I know of is suspected but not confirmed.

Thanks again,

Stephen

[stef2011]

if you have cholesterol problems do use sim or lobastatin or red yeast (which contains lobastatin naturally), all these have studies of lowering hbsag, and this is also logical since hbsag is made of lipids/cholesterol

torvastatin and fluvastatin (or similar names) have no or little effect on hbsag/hbv

this is another post i made time ago
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-B/finally-found-a-study-on-hbv-and-cholesterol/show/1317387

i also posted an article on envelopped viruses and cholesterol time ago but now i have no time to look for it.it was made on hiv, herpes and others which are same family/similar to hbv
they saw that these viruses have missing parts/incomplete virions after there is no cholesterol available and less infectivity