title: The role of neutralizing antibodies in hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a blood-borne virus estimated to infect around 170 million people worldwide and is, therefore, a major disease burden. In some individuals the virus is spontaneously cleared during the acute phase of infection, whilst in others a persistent infection ensues. Of those persistently infected, severe liver diseases such as cirrhosis and primary liver cancer may develop, although many individuals remain asymptomatic. A range of factors shape the course of HCV infection, not least host genetic polymorphisms and host immunity. A number of studies have shown that neutralizing antibodies (nAb) arise during HCV infection, but that these antibodies differ in their breadth and mechanism of neutralization. Recent studies, using both mAbs and polyclonal sera, have provided an insight into neutralizing determinants and the likely protective role of antibodies during infection. This understanding has helped to shape our knowledge of the overall structure of the HCV envelope glycoproteins--the natural target for nAb. Most nAb identified to date target receptor-binding sites within the envelope glycoprotein E2. However, there is some evidence that other viral epitopes may be targets for antibody neutralization, suggesting the need to broaden the search for neutralization epitopes beyond E2. This review provides a comprehensive overview of our current understanding of the role played by nAb in HCV infection and disease outcome and explores the limitations in the study systems currently used. In addition, we briefly discuss the potential therapeutic benefits of nAb and efforts to develop nAb-based therapies.
authors: School of Molecular Medical Sciences and The Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre Biomedical Research Unit, The University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.
authors: Victoria C
authors: VC
authors: Edwards
authors: School of Molecular Medical Sciences and The Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre Biomedical Research Unit, The University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.
authors: Alexander W
authors: AW
authors: Tarr
authors: School of Molecular Medical Sciences and The Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre Biomedical Research Unit, The University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.
authors: Richard A
authors: RA
authors: Urbanowicz
authors: School of Molecular Medical Sciences and The Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre Biomedical Research Unit, The University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.
authors: Jonathan K
authors: JK
authors: Ball
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000276:immunology*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins