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The role of hPNPase, an IFN‐inducible gene, in the hepatocellular innate immune response to HCV infection
Author(s) -
Gonzalez Oscar,
Yeh George K.,
Koehler Carla M.,
Teitiell Michael A.,
French Samuel W.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.lb399
Subject(s) - innate immune system , immune system , virology , biology , interferon , immunology , hepatitis c virus , gene knockdown , hepatocellular carcinoma , hepatitis c , chronic infection , virus , cell culture , cancer research , genetics
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has a prevalence of 3% worldwide, causing major liver disease to more than 170 million infected people. With 70% of acute infections progressing to persistence, it is the leading cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Viral infection is known to trigger host immune responses and initiate signaling pathways that induce IFN production. hPNPase (human polynucleotide phosphorylase) is a mitochondrial protein induced in response to type I interferon. To determine its involvement in antiviral response to HCV, we used an in vitro HCV cell culture infection system (HCVcc). We found hPNPase to be induced over time by infection with HCVcc. Further siRNA‐mediated knockdown of hPNPase increased cellular levels of the HCV Core protein during infection in Huh‐7 cells. This data implicates hPNPase as part of the hepatocyte's innate immune response to HCV infection.