Induction and evasion of innate antiviral responses by hepatitis C virus.

ABSTRACT: Persistent hepatitis C virus infection is associated with progressive hepatic fibrosis and liver cancer. Acute infection evokes several distinct innate immune responses, but these are partially or completely countered by the virus. Hepatitis C virus proteins serve dual functions in replication and immune evasion, acting to disrupt cellular signaling pathways leading to interferon synthesis, subvert Jak-STAT signaling to limit expression of interferon-stimulated genes, and block antiviral activities of interferon-stimulated genes. The net effect is a multilayered evasion of innate immunity, which negatively influences the subsequent development of antigen-specific adaptive immunity, thereby contributing to virus persistence and resistance to therapy.

SUBMITTER: Lemon SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2906263 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature