813 HEPATITIS C VIRUS-SPECIFIC CELLULAR IMMUNITY DOES NOT PROTECT AGAINST FUTURE HCV INFECTION IN ANTI-HCV NEGATIVE INJECTING DRUG USERS

performed using a non-targeted multiple platform methodologycombining ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography/tandemmass spectrometry (UHPLC/MS) and gas chromatography/massspectrometry (GC/MS). Metabolites were identified by automatedcomparison of ion features to a reference of chemical standardentries. Welch’s two-sample t-tests were used to identifybiochemicals that differed significantly between HCV infected andun-infected cells.Results: A total of 250 metabolites were detected and quantified,of which 73 were differentially regulated. At the 24-hour timepoint, there was a significant increase in a number of metabolitesinvolved in nucleotide synthesis and RNA replication. NAD levelswere also significantly increased along with several aminoacids. A number of lipid metabolic pathways were disruptedby HCV infection, resulting in an increase in cholesterol andsphingolipid levels, altered phospholipid metabolism and a possibledisruption in mitochondrial fatty acid transport. Fluctuations inmethylthioadenosine (MTA) levels were also noted, along withalterations in the glutathione synthesis pathway.Conclusions: These results suggest that elevated metabolism andaltered energy status are associated with early HCV infection. Thesefindings also provide new information on the effect HCV infectionhas on the disruption of lipid metabolism.813HEPATITIS C VIRUS-SPECIFIC CELLULAR IMMUNITY DOESNOT PROTECT AGAINST FUTURE HCV INFECTION IN ANTI-HCVNEGATIVE INJECTING DRUG USERSR. Sacks-Davis