[Processing and pathogenicity of HCV core protein].
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major causative agent of blood-borne hepatitis. Most of the HCV-positive individuals have been chronically infected with the virus for decades, leading to development of steatosis, cirrhosis and ultimately hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition, cryoglobulinemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus are associated with a chronic infection with HCV. Hepatocellular carcinoma induced by HCV infection is not caused by only the repeated inflammations but also the biological activity of HCV proteins. HCV core protein has been reported as a component of the viral nucleocapsid as well as the pathogenic factor that could induce the production of oxidative stress and progression of cell growth. In this review, we summarize the current status of our knowledge regarding to the processing and pathogenicity of HCV core protein.
Department of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. kohji@biken.osaka-u.ac.jp
Kohji
K
Moriishi
Yoshio
Y
Mori
Yoshiharu
Y
Matsuura
D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / Q000502:physiology; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000821:virology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000821:virology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000821:virology; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D014758:Viral Core Proteins; C069130:nucleocapsid protein, Hepatitis C virus; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; C460085:signal peptide peptidase