PLIN2 and chronic hepatitis C virus infection: In addition, for the first time, perilipin 2-positive microvesicular steatotic foci of different sizes were detected in liver biopsies of chronic hepatitis C. From our data, we could not substantiate the finding that microvesicular steatotic foci may originate from a present or prior viral replication; however, LD accumulation as triggered by HCV may be the initial event in the formation of microvesicular steatotic foci [24].