Anti-hepatitis C virus activity of geranylgeranylacetone treatment in hepatitis C-infected patients

Abstract

Background. Geranylgeranylacetone (GGA), which is an isoprenoid compound, has been used orally as an antiulcer drug in Japan. GGA induces antiviral gene expression by stimulating the formation of interferon-stimulated gene factor 3 in human hepatoma cells. This study verified the anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) activity of GGA in chronic hepatitis C-infected patients. Methods. The present prospective study included 20 consecutive anti-HCV antibody-positive, HCV-genotype 1b, and chronic gastritis patients who visited Nagasaki University Hospital between January 1999 and December 1999. GGA (150 mg per day, which is the dose generally used for chronic gastritis) was taken orally for four weeks. We evaluated HCV-RNA titers and other clinical parameters at pretreatment, posttreatment, and at the endpoint of the study. Pretreatment was the beginning point of GGA treatment. Posttreatment was the termination point of GGA treatment. The endpoint was the point four weeks after the posttreatment point. Results. All patients completed four weeks of GGA treatment and four weeks of observation. HCV-RNA titers at postpoint were not significantly diminished compared to those at pretreatment. However, HCV-RNA titers were significantly diminished at endtreatment compared to pretreatment. Unfortunately, we did not observe a case with no titer of HCV-RNA. Alanine aminotransferase values and other parameters were not affected by GGA treatment. Conclusion. GGA has anti-HCV activities in chronic hepatitis C-infected patients. In the future, it will be necessary to examine the clinical effectiveness of the combination of treatment with both GGA and interferon in HCV patients.