Cellular and molecular biology of HCV infection and hepatitis.

نویسندگان

  • Hengli Tang
  • Henry Grisé
چکیده

HCV (hepatitis C virus) infects nearly 3% of the population worldwide and has emerged as a major causative agent of liver disease, resulting in acute and chronic infections that can lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatitis C represents the leading cause of liver transplantation in the United States and Europe. A positive-strand RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family, HCV contains a single-stranded RNA genome of approx. 9600 nucleotides. The genome RNA serves as both mRNA for translation of viral proteins and the template for RNA replication. Cis-acting RNA elements within the genome regulate RNA replication by forming secondary structures that interact with each other and trans-acting factors. Although structural proteins are clearly dispensable for RNA replication, recent evidence points to an important role of several non-structural proteins in particle assembly and release, turning their designation on its head. HCV enters host cells through receptor-mediated endocytosis, and the process requires the co-ordination of multiple cellular receptors and co-receptors. RNA replication takes place at specialized intracellular membrane structures called 'membranous webs' or 'membrane-associated foci', whereas viral assembly probably occurs on lipid droplets and endoplasmic reticulum. Liver inflammation plays a central role in the liver damage seen in hepatitis C, but many HCV proteins also directly contribute to HCV pathogenesis. In the present review, the molecular and cellular aspects of the HCV life cycle and the role of viral proteins in pathological liver conditions caused by HCV infection are described.

برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

منابع مشابه

The Prevalence of HBV and HCV Infection in HIV Positive Patients in Norht of Iran

Background: HIV infected persons are also at risk for Infection with other pathogens, like Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV). One of the main steps in the planning of treatment and prevention is the study of the HIV positive population who have HBV and/or HCV infection. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of HIV and Hepatitis B and C dual infection in ...

متن کامل

Hepatitis C Virus and Vaccine Development

The prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is approximately 3% around the world. This virus causes chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The effectiveness of interferon-α and ribavirin therapy is about 50% and is associated with significant toxicity and cost. Hence, generating new vaccines or drugs is an obligation. However, there is no vaccine available for clinical u...

متن کامل

Development of Preventive Vaccines for Hepatitis C Virus E1/E2 Protein

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is responsible for a vast majority of liver failure cases. HCV is a kind of blood disease appraised to chronically infect 3% of the worlds’ population causing significant morbidity and mortality. Therefore, a complete knowledge of humoral responses against HCV, resulting antibodies, and virus-receptor and virus-antibody interactions, are essential to design a vaccine. HC...

متن کامل

Association between Lymphotoxin (LT-A) Gene Polymorphism and Susceptibility to Chronic Hepatitis C Infection in Iranian Patients

Background & Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. The clearance of the HCV is dependent on cytokines control led by genetic. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of Lymphotoxin (LT-A) polymorphism at +252 in susceptibility to chronic hepatitis C. Methods: In this case-control study, 120 individuals infected by HCV and ...

متن کامل

The Absence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection Among Patients with Hepatitis B virus in Mashhad, Iran

Background and Aims: Many studies have provided evidence for the role of hepatitis B and C viruses in the development of liver cancer. Although the routine treatment is available for both conditions, no definite guideline is available to treat patients dually infected with HBV and HCV. This study was performed to determine the frequency of HBV/HCV-coinfection in Mashhad, North-East of Iran. Mat...

متن کامل

Identification of Aptamer-Binding Sites in Hepatitis C Virus Envelope Glycoprotein E2

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) encodes two envelope glycoproteins, E1 and E2. Our previous work selected a specific aptamer ZE2, which could bind to E2 with high affinity, with a great potential for developing new molecular probes as an early diagnostic reagents or therapeutic drugs targeting HCV. In this study, the binding sites between E2 and aptamer ZE2 were further explored. E2 was truncated to 15...

متن کامل

ذخیره در منابع من


  با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید

برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

عنوان ژورنال:
  • Clinical science

دوره 117 2  شماره 

صفحات  -

تاریخ انتشار 2009