Roles of Lipoproteins and Apolipoproteins in Particle Formation of Hepatitis C Virus

More than 160 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), and cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma induced by HCV infection are life-threatening diseases. HCV takes advantage of many aspects of lipid metabolism for an efficient propagation in hepatocytes. Due to the morphological and physiological similarities of HCV particles to lipoproteins, lipid-associated HCV particles are named lipoviroparticles. Recent analyses have revealed that exchangeable apolipoproteins directly interact with the viral membrane to generate infectious HCV particles. In this review, we summarize the roles of lipid metabolism in the life cycle of HCV.

TrendsHepatitis C virus (HCV) takes advantage of many aspects of lipid metabolism for its efficient propagation.Exchangeable apolipoproteins participate in the formation of infectious HCV particles.The morphology and density of HCV particles are similar to those of lipoproteins in human sera.Lipid metabolism might be an attractive therapeutic target for chronic hepatitis C.