Hepatitis C virus Core protein overcomes all-trans retinoic acid-induced cell growth arrest by inhibiting retinoic acid receptor-β2 expression via DNA methylation

- ATRA activates p16 expression via promoter hypomethylation to inhibit cell growth.
- RAR-b2 mediates the potential of ATRA to activate p16 expression.
- HCV Core inhibits expression of RAR-b2 and p16 via DNA methylation.
- HCV Core overcomes ATRA-induced cell growth inhibition.