title: c-Fos regulates hepatitis C virus propagation.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA replication requires cellular factors as well as viral non-structural proteins (NS protein). Using small interfering RNA (siRNA) library screening, we previously identified c-Fos as a host factor involved in HCV propagation. In the present study, we demonstrated that silencing of c-Fos expression resulted in decrease of HCV propagation in cell culture grown HCV (HCVcc)-infected cells; whereas overexpression of c-Fos significantly increased HCV propagation. We further confirmed the positive role of c-Fos in HCV propagation by both HCV-luciferase reporter assay and immunofluorescence analysis. We showed that c-Fos level was upregulated by HCV infection. Furthermore, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced c-Fos level was synergistically increased by HCV infection. These data suggest that c-Fos acts as a positive regulator of HCV propagation and may contribute to HCV-associated pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: National Research Laboratory of Hepatitis C Virus, Ilsong Institute of Life Science, Hallym University, Anyang, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Seri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Seung-Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: Ye-Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Yun-Sook
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Byung-Yoon
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Soon B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D002273:Carcinogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000502:physiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D012367:RNA, Viral; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate