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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 14, 2014; 20(42): 15467-15475
Published online Nov 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i42.15467
Hepatitis C virus-mediated angiogenesis: Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic strategies
Mohamed Hassan, Denis Selimovic, Abdelouahid El-Khattouti, Martine Soell, Hanan Ghozlan, Youssef Haikel, Ola Abdelkader, Mosaad Megahed
Mohamed Hassan, Abdelouahid El-Khattouti, Cancer Institute, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, United States
Mohamed Hassan, Denis Selimovic, Youssef Haikel, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherché Médicale, S 1121, Hospitals of Hautepierre, Dental Faculty, University of Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
Mohamed Hassan, Denis Selimovic, Youssef Haikel, Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Hospitals of Hautepierre, Dental Faculty, University of Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
Martine Soell, Department of Periodontology, Hospitals of Hautepierre, Dental Faculty, University of Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
Hanan Ghozlan, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Medical research Institute, University of Alexandria, Alexandria 21552, Egypt
Ola Abdelkader, Department of Microbiology, Medical research Institute, University of Alexandria, Alexandria 21552, Egypt
Mosaad Megahed, Clinic of Dermatology, University Hospital of Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Author contributions: All authors contributed to the manuscript.
Supported by Grant from German Research Foundation, No. HA 5081/3-1; German cancer foundation, No. 10-2202-Ha1; and L'Alsace contre le Cancer, France (to Hassan M)
Correspondence to: Mohamed Hassan, PhD, Cancer Institute, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, United States. dr.hassan@gmx.de
Telephone: +1-601-8158945 Fax: +1-601-8158945
Received: November 7, 2013
Revised: March 24, 2014
Accepted: May 19, 2014
Published online: November 14, 2014
Abstract

Angiogenesis is an essential process for organ growth and repair. Thus, an imbalance in this process can lead to several diseases including malignancy. Angiogenesis is a critical step in vascular remodeling, tissue damage and wound healing besides being required for invasive tumor growth and metastasis. Because angiogenesis sets an important point in the control of tumor progression, its inhibition is considered a valuable therapeutic approach for tumor treatment. Chronic liver disease including hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the main cause for the development of hepatic angiogenesis and thereby plays a critical role in the modulation of hepatic angiogenesis that finally leads to hepatocellular carcinoma progression and invasion. Thus, understanding of the molecular mechanisms of HCV-mediated hepatic angiogenesis will help design a therapeutic protocol for the intervention of HCV-mediated angiogenesis and subsequently its outcome. In this review, we will focus on the molecular mechanisms of HCV-mediated hepatic angiogenesis and the related signaling pathways that can be target for current and under development therapeutic approaches.

Keywords: Hepatitis C virus, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Angiogenesis, Signaling pathway, Therapy

Core tip: This editorial elaborate the molecular mechanisms of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-mediated angiogenesis and its mechanisms, and the potential of angiogenic pathways as target for hepatocellular carcinoma therapy. We summarized the current knowledge of HCV-mediated angiogenesis and the possible therapeutic strategies.