Abstract
Innate immunity controls pathogen replication and spread. Yet, certain pathogens, such as Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), escape immune elimination and establish persistent infections that promote chronic inflammation and related diseases. Whereas HCV regulatory proteins that attenuate antiviral responses are known, those that promote inflammation and liver injury remain to be identified. Here, we show that transient expression of HCV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), NS5B, in mouse liver and human hepatocytes results in production of small RNA species that activate innate immune signaling via TBK1-IRF3 and NF-κB and induce cytokine production, including type I interferons (IFN) and IL-6. NS5B-expression also results in liver damage.
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Hepacivirus* / genetics
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Hepacivirus* / metabolism
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Hepacivirus* / pathogenicity
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Hepatitis C, Chronic* / genetics
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Hepatitis C, Chronic* / metabolism
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Hepatitis C, Chronic* / virology
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Hepatocytes / metabolism
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Humans
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Immunity, Innate*
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Interferon Regulatory Factor-3 / metabolism
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Interferon Type I / biosynthesis
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Interferon Type I / metabolism
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Interleukin-6 / biosynthesis
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Interleukin-6 / metabolism
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Liver* / injuries
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Liver* / metabolism
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Liver* / virology
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Mice
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NF-kappa B / metabolism
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
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Signal Transduction
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Viral Nonstructural Proteins* / genetics
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Viral Nonstructural Proteins* / metabolism
Substances
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IRF3 protein, human
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Interferon Regulatory Factor-3
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Interferon Type I
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Interleukin-6
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NF-kappa B
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Viral Nonstructural Proteins
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
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TBK1 protein, human
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NS-5 protein, hepatitis C virus