Therapetic strategy for chronic hepatitis C by inducing apoptosis of hepatocyte infected with hepatitis C virus

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To investigate influence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on hepatocyte, we established several permanent hepatocyte clones that express HCV core gene. Microarray analysis of these clones revealed a couple of gene of which expression was modulated in HCV core-expressing clones. We applied Nothern blot analysis to confirm 2 genes of which expression was downrgulated as well as 3 genes of which expression was upregulated in HCV core-expressing clones. We are currently analyzing the role of these genes in hepatocytes. We also investigated the effect of HCV core expression on apoptosis as well as cell proliferation. Expression of HCV core gene did not affect apoptosis, but significantly retarded proliferation of hepatocyte by inhibiting G1/S transition. These results suggest that infection of HCV inhibits hepatocyte proliferation but does not affect apoptosis of hepatocytes, raising the possibility that HCV-infected hepatocytes can be eradicated by apoptotic stimuli.