Identification of GBF1 as a cellular factor required for hepatitis C virus RNA replication.

In infected cells, hepatitis C virus (HCV) induces the formation of membrane alterations referred to as membranous webs, which are sites of RNA replication. In addition, HCV RNA replication also occurs in smaller membrane structures that are associated with the endoplasmic reticulum. However, cellular mechanisms involved in the formation of HCV replication complexes remain largely unknown.

High-density lipoproteins reduce the neutralizing effect of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patient antibodies by promoting HCV entry.

The neutralizing activity of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies is attenuated by a factor present in human sera, which has been proposed to be high-density lipoproteins (HDLs). HDLs have also been shown to facilitate the entry of HCV pseudoparticles (HCVpp) into target cells. Here, the aim of the study was to determine whether HDL-mediated facilitation of HCVpp and infectious HCV (HCVcc) entry and attenuation of neutralization are two related phenomena.