Interferon-Induced Transmembrane Proteins Mediate Viral Evasion in Acute and Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

ABSTRACT: Although adaptive immune responses against hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have been studied in great detail, the role of innate immunity in protection against HCV infection and immune evasion is only partially understood. Interferon-induced transmembrane proteins (IFITMs) are innate effector proteins restricting host cell entry of many enveloped viruses, including HCV. However, the clinical impact of IFITMs on HCV immune escape remains to be determined. Here, we show that IFITMs promote viral escape from the neutralizing antibody (nAb) response in clinical cohorts of HCV-infected patients. Using pseudoparticles bearing HCV envelope proteins from acutely infected patients, we show that HCV variants isolated preseroconversion are more sensitive to the antiviral activity of IFITMs than var

SUBMITTER: Wrensch F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6819197 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature