Novel function of CD81 in controlling hepatitis C virus replication.

ABSTRACT: The mechanisms of hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication remain poorly understood, and the cellular factors required for HCV replication are yet to be completely defined. CD81 is known to mediate HCV entry. Our study uncovered an unexpected novel function of CD81 in the HCV life cycle that is important for HCV RNA replication. HCV replication occurred efficiently in infected cells with high levels of CD81 expression. In HCV-infected or RNA-transfected cells with low levels of CD81 expression, initial viral protein synthesis occurred normally, but efficient replication failed to proceed. The aborted replication could be restored by the transient transfection of a CD81 expression plasmid. CD81-dependent replication was demonstrated with both an HCV infectious cell culture and HCV replicon cells

SUBMITTER: Zhang YY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2838140 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature