Hepatitis C virus triggers mitochondrial fission and attenuates apoptosis to promote viral persistence.

ABSTRACT: Mitochondrial dynamics is crucial for the regulation of cell homeostasis. Our recent findings suggest that hepatitis C virus (HCV) promotes Parkin-mediated elimination of damaged mitochondria (mitophagy). Here we show that HCV perturbs mitochondrial dynamics by promoting mitochondrial fission followed by mitophagy, which attenuates HCV-induced apoptosis. HCV infection stimulated expression of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) and its mitochondrial receptor, mitochondrial fission factor. HCV further induced the phosphorylation of Drp1 (Ser616) and caused its subsequent translocation to the mitochondria, followed by mitophagy. Interference of HCV-induced mitochondrial fission and mitophagy by Drp1 silencing suppressed HCV secretion, with a concomitant decrease in cellular glycolysis and ATP l

SUBMITTER: Kim SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4035934 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature