OK, so now we know that HCV can actually infect brain cells and impact the CNS (which many had already suspected), and it has been shown that HCV is also 'saliotropic, ie, infects salivary cells and tissues, and additionally has been shown to be 'lymphotropic', ie, directly infects the lymph glands and lymphatic system.
Is it any wonder that so many people display such a wide array of extrahepatic symptoms form HCV infection? The fatigue, depression, balance issues, joint pain and arthritic problems, the sjogren's like syndrome affecting mouth, eyes, and glands in some who are infected. This is likely all due to direct infection by the virus in those tissues.
I would like to see research on gastro-intestinal cells and stomach lining, etc. to determine if HCV is infecting those organs as well.....sexual membranes and tissues...etc.
If we do know that HCV actually 'infects' salivary cells, then I have always wondered whether the virus is passed from one person to another in the salivary tissues, and that this most likely would NOT trigget a full blown HCV serum infection, but rather remain in the affected tissues unable to surmount the immune barrier to generate a full blown blood infection. Or maybe the 'salivary' infection is comprised of an HCV-mutant virus, adapted to those particular cells and tissues. As I have always believed with HCV, there continues to be MUCH more than we generally suspect with this virus. Brain, CNS infection being demonstrated....what's next?
You also may note the researchers discuss the potential for hidden or isolated 'reservoirs' of HCV, that might pose a risk of re-infection. Maybe they just remain isolated in the brain, and do not re-infect...but what DO these infectious brain cells do to our functioning. Have we determined if all brain infection clears upon our SVR's??? They seem to imply that maybe not.
Food for thought, and further investigation. Also, a reason to continue developing newer drugs, as they suggest, to deal with this other mode of infection.
DoubleDose
Here is an excerpt from the above linked study! Everyone should become aware of these findings:
"Working with the Manhattan Brain Bank in New York, USA, the researchers, led by Dr Nicola Fletcher, of the University’s School of Immunity and Infection, detected HCV genomic materal in the brains of four of ten infected patients who posthumously donated brain and liver tissue.
The team went on to demonstrate in laboratory tests that brain cells isolated from the blood-brain barrier could be infected with HCV.
‘This is the first report that cells of the central nervous system support HCV replication,’ says corresponding author Professor Jane McKeating, chair of molecular virology at the University of Birmingham. ‘These observations could have clinical implications providing a reservoir for the virus to persist during anti-viral treatment’
"The endothelial cells make up the security system of the brain, a kind of bouncer at the door that keeps out undesirable elements," explains Dr Fletcher. "If this barrier is compromised all kinds of substances can gain access to the brain, which may explain the fatigue and other symptoms reported by HCV-infected patients."
James is right...please read the article that he linked!! It is an important update regarding HCV and infection in the BRAIN!!! And you wondered why you were fatigued, and had brainfog!!!!!!!
Here is another link:
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-01-scientists-brain-vulnerable-hepatitis-virus.html?trkv=2703294&trks=2846271
DoubleDose