Moriishi Kohji, Matsuura Yoshiharu
Research Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Antivir Chem Chemother. 2003 Nov;14(6):285-97. doi: 10.1177/095632020301400601.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the major causative agent of chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis. The life cycle of HCV is largely unknown because a reliable culture system has not yet been established. HCV presumably binds to specific receptor(s) and enters cells through endocytosis, as do other members of Flaviviridae. The viral genome is translated into a precursor polyprotein after uncoating, and viral RNA is synthesized by a virus-encoded polymerase complex. Progeny viral particles are released into the luminal side of the endoplasmic reticulum and secreted from the cell after passage through the Golgi apparatus. Understanding the mechanisms of HCV infection is essential to the development of effective new therapies for chronic HCV infection. Several host membrane proteins have been identified as receptor candidates for HCV. Recent advances using pseudotype virus systems have provided information surrounding the initial steps of HCV infection. An HCV RNA replicon system has been useful for elucidating the replication mechanism of HCV. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the mechanisms of HCV infection and discuss potential antiviral strategies against HCV infection.
丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）是慢性非甲非乙型肝炎的主要病原体。由于尚未建立可靠的培养系统，HCV的生命周期在很大程度上尚不明确。与黄病毒科的其他成员一样，HCV可能与特定受体结合并通过内吞作用进入细胞。病毒基因组在脱壳后被翻译成前体多聚蛋白，病毒RNA由病毒编码的聚合酶复合物合成。子代病毒颗粒释放到内质网腔侧，并在通过高尔基体后从细胞中分泌出来。了解HCV感染机制对于开发针对慢性HCV感染的有效新疗法至关重要。几种宿主膜蛋白已被确定为HCV的候选受体。使用假型病毒系统的最新进展提供了有关HCV感染初始步骤的信息。HCV RNA复制子系统有助于阐明HCV的复制机制。在这篇综述中，我们总结了目前对HCV感染机制的理解，并讨论了针对HCV感染的潜在抗病毒策略。
