Hepatitis C virus versus innate and adaptive immune responses: a tale of coevolution and coexistence
Barbara Rehermann
Barbara Rehermann
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Science in Medicine

Hepatitis C virus versus innate and adaptive immune responses: a tale of coevolution and coexistence

Abstract

Since the identification of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) 20 years ago, much progress has been made in our understanding of its life cycle and interaction with the host immune system. Much has been learned from HCV itself, which, via decades of coevolution, gained an intricate knowledge of host innate and adaptive immune responses and developed sophisticated ways to preempt, subvert, and antagonize them. This review discusses the clinical, virological, and immunological features of acute and chronic hepatitis C and the role of the immune response in spontaneous and treatment-induced HCV clearance.

Authors

Barbara Rehermann

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Figure 1

HCV genome organization.

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HCV genome organization. (A) The single-stranded RNA genome encodes a lo...
(A) The single-stranded RNA genome encodes a long open reading frame (ORF) flanked by 2 UTRs, which contain signals for viral protein and RNA synthesis and the coordination of both processes. Translation is initiated through an internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) in the 5’ UTR. U, uridine; C, cytidine. (B) The translated polyprotein is cotranslationally and posttranslationally processed by cellular and viral proteases. Numbers below the polyprotein indicate the amino acid positions of the cleavage sites. (C) Function of the resulting 10 structural and nonstructural proteins. A frameshift (F) protein is translated from a short alternate reading frame (ARF). Figure modified with permission from Nature Reviews Immunology (S23).