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©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 28, 2007; 13(36): 4818-4823
Published online Sep 28, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i36.4818
Published online Sep 28, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i36.4818
Interaction of hepatitis C virus with the type I interferon system
Friedemann Weber, Abteilung Virologie, Institut für Medi-zinische Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Universität Freiburg, Freiburg D-79008, Germany
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Correspondence to: Friedemann Weber, Abteilung Virologie, Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Universität Freiburg, Freiburg D-79008, Germany. friedemann.weber@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Telephone: +49-761-2036614 Fax: +49-761-2036562
Received: June 26, 2007
Revised: July 2, 2007
Accepted: July 9, 2007
Published online: September 28, 2007
Revised: July 2, 2007
Accepted: July 9, 2007
Published online: September 28, 2007
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) needs to tightly manipulate host defences in order to establish infection. The innate immune response slows down viral replication by activating cytokines such as the type I interferons (IFN-α/β), which trigger the synthesis of antiviral proteins and modulate the adaptive immune system. HCV has therefore developed a number of countermeasures to stay ahead of the IFN system. Here, I will attempt to summarize the current state of research regarding IFN responses against HCV and the viral escape strategies. Particular emphasis will be put on the newly discovered mechanisms HCV employs to avoid the induction of IFN in infected cells.