Variations in serum sphingolipid levels associate with liver fibrosis progression and poor treatment outcome in hepatitis C virus but not hepatitis B virus infection

Abstract

Our study demonstrates a tight interaction between variations in serum SL levels and progression of liver fibrosis as well as responsiveness to antiviral therapy. Particularly, sphingosine, sphinganine, and C24Cer appear as promising novel biomarkers in chronic HCV infection and should be further evaluated within the noninvasive prediction of liver fibrosis.