Cell-mediated immune responses directed against hepatitis C virus (HCV) alternate reading frame protein (ARFP) are undetectable during acute infection.

摘要

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) alternate reading frame protein (ARFP) is produced as a result of alternate translational decoding of the core protein gene.1'2 ARFP induces production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and flbrogenic chemokines, suggesting a role in hepatic injury. ARFP has been reported to co-localize in the mitochondria and differential mitochondrial targeting may influence hepatocyte apoptosis and viral clearance.11 However, biological functions of ARFP are difficult to dissociate from those of RNA structures located within the core-ARFP coding region.12 Humoral and cell-mediated ARFP-speciflc immune responses are present during chronic HCV infection, confirming its expression in vivo.