Characterization of adapted HCV that can replicate efficiently in non-hepatic cells

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K19110
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Virology
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Ono Chikako 大阪大学, 微生物病研究所, 特任研究員(常勤) (30626437)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: C型肝炎ウイルス / 感染症 / 肝外病変 / マイクロRNA

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A liver-specific microRNA, miR-122, is one of the key determinants of hepatotropism of hepatitis C virus (HCV). We established mutant viruses with adaptive mutations in the 5’UTR of HCV RNA adjacent to miR-122 binding sites, which exhibits efficient RNA replication in miR-122-deficient condition. Furthermore, same adaptive mutation was detected from HCV-RNA replicating in non-hepatic cells of chronic HCV patients. These results suggest that HCV mutants capable of replicating in the absence of miR-122 may participate in the induction of extrahepatic manifestations in chronic hepatitis C patients.

Free Research Field

肝炎ウイルス学