CD55 limits excessive complement activation on the host cell surface by accelerating the decay of C3 convertases. In this study, we observed that hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection of hepatocytes or HCV core protein expression in transfected hepatocytes upregulated CD55 expression at the mRNA and protein levels. Further analysis suggested that the HCV core protein or full-length (FL) genome enha...

background and aims: dna constructs containing hcv antigens have become one of the vaccine candidates for induction of anti-hcv cellular and humoral immunity. in this study, we constructed a novel expressing vector harboring a fusion sequence derived from an overlapping fragment in the middle of ns3 and a truncated core fragment to avoid troubles reported to be associated with full gene express...

BACKGROUND Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a main public health problem causing chronic liver infection and subsequently liver cirrhosis and lethal hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Vaccination based on HCV capsid proteins has attracted a special interest for prevention of viral infections. The core protein is a basic and evolutionary most conserved protein, which regulates the cellular processes rela...

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the major etiological agent of blood-borne non-A non-B hepatitis and a leading cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide. HCV core protein is a multifunctional protein with regulatory functions in cellular transcription and virus-induced transformation and pathogenesis. Here we report on the identification of a bZIP nuclear transcription protein ...

BACKGROUND Hepatitis C viral (HCV) load detection and quantification is routinely accomplished by HCV RNA measurement, an expensive but essential test, both for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). HCV core antigen (Ag) testing has been suggested as an attractive alternative to molecular diagnostics. The aim of the study was to evaluate an automated chemiluminescent immunoa...

BACKGROUND Steatosis is a common histological finding and a poor prognostic indicator in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In HCV genotype 3-infected patients, the etiology of steatosis appears to be closely correlated with unknown viral factors that increase intracellular lipid levels. We hypothesize that specific sequence polymorphisms in HCV genotype 3 core protein may be asso...

We have recently read with great interest the article published in your most valuable journal entitled “Hepatitis C virus infection rate among seronegative hemodialysis patients screened by two methods: HCV core antigen and polymerase chain reaction” by Moini et al. (1). This study focused its message on determination of the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in seronegative hemodi...

Evidence from clinical and laboratory studies has accumulated indicating that the activation of the cannabinoid system is crucial for steatosis, especially in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, the association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the cannabinoid system has not been well investigated and it is unclear whether steatosis in chronic hepatitis C develops via activa...

AIMS We showed previously that amino acid (aa) substitutions in HCV genotype 1b (HCV-1b) core region are negative predictors of virological response to peginterferon + ribavirin therapy, and also risk factors of hepatocarcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of core aa substitutions on mortality in elderly patients. METHODS We compared the characteristics and survival ...

BACKGROUND Hepatitis C virus (HCV) activates host innate immune responses mediated by retinoic acid inducing gene-I (RIG-I) and Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Although the nonstructural protein 3/4A (NS3/4A) of HCV disrupts interferon responses by inhibiting RIG-I signaling, the effects of TLR activation by HCV-associated proteins on host innate immune responses are poorly understood. METHODS Pr...