title: Hepatitis C virus utilizes lipid droplet for production of infectious virus.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) establishes a persistent infection and causes chronic hepatitis. Chronic hepatitis patients often develop hepatic cirrhosis and progress to liver cancer. The development of this pathological condition is linked to the persistent infection of the virus. In other words, viral replication/multiplication may contribute to disease pathology. Accumulating clinical studies suggest that HCV infection alters lipid metabolism, and thus causes fatty liver. It has been reported that this abnormal metabolism exacerbates hepatic diseases. Recently, we revealed that lipid droplets play a key role in HCV replication. Understanding the molecular mechanism of HCV replication will help elucidate the pathogenic mechanism and develop preventive measures that inhibit disease manifestation by blocking persistent infection. In this review, we outline recent findings on the function of lipid droplets in the HCV replication cycle and describe the relationship between the development of liver diseases and virus replication.
authors: Research Institute, Chiba Institute of Technology, Chiba, Japan.
authors: Kazuya
authors: K
authors: Ogawa
authors: Takayuki
authors: T
authors: Hishiki
authors: Yuko
authors: Y
authors: Shimizu
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Funami
authors: Kazuo
authors: K
authors: Sugiyama
authors: Yusuke
authors: Y
authors: Miyanari
authors: Kunitada
authors: K
authors: Shimotohno
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002477:Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003902:Detergents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D003902:Detergents; D014764:Viral Proteins