Host factors involved in the propagation and pathogenesis of hepatitis C Virus

Abstract

More than 170 million individuals worldwide are infected by hepatitis C virus (HCV) and it is one of the most common etiologic agents of chronic liver diseases, including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Current standard therapy combining peg-interferon, ribavirin, and a protease inhibitor has achieved a sustained virologic response in more than 80 % of individuals infected with HCV. In addition, other directly acting antivirals (DAAs) targeting to the viral non-structural proteins, including NS3, NS5A and NS5B, have been gradually applied in clinical settings. Recent reports have shown that combination therapy using different types of DAAs further improves the outcomes. However, previous reports have shown that drug-resistant variants can emerge during treatment with DAAs. In addition, most patients in developing countries are not able to access or afford such advanced therapies. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether elimination of HCV by DAAs can protect against HCV-induced liver diseases. In this review, we summarize our current data regarding molecular mechanisms of HCV-induced liver diseases.