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362971 tn?1201987034

IN VITRO

  I have read a few studies and a few posts that refer to In Vitro studies that have been performed with Hep c. Whether it was something that caused the Hep c virus to replicate quicker or testing something that may help to get rid of the Virus.  
  What I am wondering is are these really valid tests or studies. If something is In Vitro then it is in a test tube and not the human body. Can you really compare something that goes on in a test tube to what happens in the Body and then say if it happens in a test tube it will affect us the same way. I don't think so.
  Any I am just wondering what others think about this. I know there are a lot of smart members out there .Let me know what you

Bobby
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233616 tn?1312787196
if there were perfection in the petre dish or tube, there's would be no need of animal or human trials.

funny I just had this discussion on why you could not access the carcinogenic potential of Human Growth Hormone based on how it grows cancer cells in a lab, minus the great equalizer of the human immune system, which shuts of aberant growths.
Obviously is you put a growth chemical in a model with no restraints, you will get an optimal growth outcome not possible in the real world.

the lab is great for ruling things in our out without hugh and costly  expense to living things.  It only works for ruling in or out certain things and as with HCV research you can sometimes show potential or rule in or out resistance ahead of time, but it's far more complex how a chemical will react in human tissue, and how the body will recover.

here is a good power point primer on the plus's and minuses:

http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:VhJWAJeSe4cJ:www.isap.org/2001/Workshop-Istanbul/slides/2-3-pharmacodynamics-in-vitro-models/sld002.htm+in+vitro+vs.+in+vivo&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us
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Avatar universal
ignore last sentence, i was only going to repeat myself ;0
cheers.
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Avatar universal
you are correct in your assumption that not everything that happens in vitro will be seen in vivo (living subject) as well. Same applies to the gap between animal in vivo studies and human in vivo studies.

i think one can see in-vitro studies as "proof of concept" studies: the researcher looks at certain compounds, develops a hypothesis how they might interact with the virus, and then tests this thesis in a first in vitro test.

in the case of Hep C, this is believed to be already quite some achievement: because up to 2005 there was no system available that would simulate HCV replication.

These are mainly so called "cellular expression systems", where you basically have viral DNA and some liver cells and where you can prove that the virus is able to replicate like in a real body. If you have such a system, you can throw all kind of substances, like PIs, on it and see if they have the potential to reduce viral load.  Of course like any model, it simplifies reality, which might be crucial

(for example i doubt that such models are able to mimic host immune system reponse, and of course you won't spot adverse reactions/toxicities etc.)

but again, i think we can be extremely glad to have in vitro systems, but of course the researchers, pharma co's and universities should be careful in their  press releases to point out the fact that in vitro effect does not necessarily equal effect in patients.

but nevertheless, i
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