Hepatitis C virus NS5B polymerase primes innate immune signaling

• Innate immunity controls pathogen replication and spread. Yet, certain pathogens, such as Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), escape immune elimination and establish persistent infections that promote chronic inflammation and related diseases. Whereas HCV regulatory proteins that attenuate antiviral responses are known, those that promote inflammation and liver injury remain to be identified. Here, we show that transient expression of HCV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), NS5B, in mouse liver and human hepatocytes results in production of small RNA species that activate innate immune signaling via TBK1-IRF3 and NF-kappa B and induce cytokine production, including type I interferons (IFN) and IL-6. NS5B-expression also results in liver damage.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Gastroenterologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Gastroenterology and Hepatology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

de-novo initiation

RIG-I

replication complex

adapter protein

RNA synthesis

infection

pathway

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)