Apoptosis in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection
Journal Title: Postępy Nauk Medycznych - Year 2010, Vol 23, Issue 10
Abstract
Apoptosis is a highly controlled defensive mechanism contributing to elimination of viral infections, cancer transformation by removal of abnormal or redundant cells. In hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection apoptosis can lead to reduction of viral replication. On the other hand HCV can influence this process by inhibition or induction. Hepatitis C virus can affect apoptosis at the induction (caspase cascade) as well as the execution (cytochrome c) phase and viral core protein is a basic factor responsible for cell death modulation. Aside from regulation of apoptotic pathways HCV core protein also affects transcription factors such as NF-κB. Through activation of apoptosis process in macrophages and lymphocytes HCV is able to influence an efficiency of the specific immune response. On the contrary, virus is able to block apoptosis through inhibition of expression of pro-apoptotic proteins p53 and p21. It has been found that HCV co-infection with HBV and HIV facilitates apoptosis effect in cells of the immune system and central nervous system. HCV/HIV co-infection can lead to type II apoptosis (autophagic programmed cell death). It seems impossible to state definitively, what kind of effect has HCV on apoptosis. Further research is necessary to elucidate the possible effect of apoptosis on the course of infection.
Authors and Affiliations
Marcin Chmielewski, Marek Radkowski
Keywords
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