Open AccessThe functional role of sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide NTCP in the life cycle of hepatitis B, C and D viruses
Author(s) -
Carla Eller,
Laura Heydmann,
Che C. Colpitts,
Éloi R. Verrier,
Catherine Schuster,
Thomas F. Baumert
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
cellular and molecular life sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.928
H-Index - 223
eISSN - 1420-9071
pISSN - 1420-682X
DOI - 10.1007/s00018-018-2892-y
Subject(s) - hepatitis d virus , virology , transmembrane protein , hepatocyte , hepatitis c virus , viral replication , immune system , hepatitis b virus , innate immune system , hepatitis b , biology , viral life cycle , hepatitis c , liver disease , virus , immunology , receptor , hbsag , biochemistry , in vitro
Chronic hepatitis B, C and D virus (HBV, HCV and HDV) infections are a major cause of liver disease and cancer worldwide. Despite employing distinct replication strategies, the three viruses are exclusively hepatotropic, and therefore depend on hepatocyte-specific host factors. The sodium taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (NTCP), a transmembrane protein highly expressed in human hepatocytes that mediates the transport of bile acids, plays a key role in HBV and HDV entry into hepatocytes. Recently, NTCP has been shown to modulate HCV infection of hepatocytes by regulating innate antiviral immune responses in the liver. Here, we review the current knowledge of the functional role and the molecular and cellular biology of NTCP in the life cycle of the three major hepatotropic viruses, highlight the impact of NTCP as an antiviral target and discuss future avenues of research.