Liver diseases
Lead Researcher:
Dr Amany Zekry Dr Clovis Palmer, and Ms Yagmin Bu
Significance
Liver disease due to hepatitis C virus infection and/or obesity are rapidly increasing causes of liver cancer and death in Australia. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects 3% of the world’s population and more than ¼ million Australians and is the leading cause of liver failure and transplantation in our community. A substantial increase in the prevalence of HCV is projected in decades to come, suggesting a future increase in the burden of chronic HCV-related liver disease, with its attendant morbidity and mortality.
The future is no brighter: the hepatitis C epidemic shows no signs of abating whereas liver disease related to diabetes and obesity looms as a potential second wave of liver damage and liver cancer. Now, with more than 60% of men and 45% of women in Australia being overweight, fatty liver disease is becoming a major cause of liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and increased mortality in Australia.
Major achievements
Our research focuses on understanding mechanisms of liver injury due to chronic hepatitis C virus and the impact of fatty liver and obesity on this injury. We have made several internationally acclaimed contributions to this area including, 1) highlighting novel mechanisms whereby the hepatitis C virus induces liver damage in liver transplant recipients; 2) highlighting some of the mechanisms whereby excess fat causes liver damage in obese subjects with HCV.
This research is fundamental in guiding us in developing preventative and therapeutic strategies to combat the rising death rate from complications related to liver disease due to hepatitis C and/or obesity.
Current and Future Research Objectives
Understanding the mechanisms of the synergy between Hep C virus and fat which underlie liver injury is fundamentally important in developing better prevention strategies and ways of treating these common liver diseases.
Recent publications
C Palmer, A Lloyd, and A Zekry. A novel role for adiponectin in regulating the immune responses in chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Hepatology 2008; in press
GW McCaughan and A Zekry. Mechanisms of HCV reinfection and allograft damage after liver transplantation. Journal of Hepatology. 2004 Mar; 40(3):368-74.
A Zekry, AG Bishop, S Turhan , D Painter & GW McCaughan. Intrahepatic Cytokine Profiles Associated With Post Transplant Hepatitis C Virus Related Liver Injury. Liver Transplantation. 2002 Mar; 8(3): 292-301.
