Hepatitis C virus core protein inhibits apoptosis through functional modulation of the PML/p53 tumor suppressor pathway

Tumor suppressor protein promyelocytic leukaemia (PML) is implicated in apoptosis regulation and antiviral response. PML localizes predominantly to PML-nuclear bodies (PML-NBs), nuclear multiprotein complexes regulating tumor suppressor protein p53 activity. Consistent with a function of PML in the cellular antiviral response, PML-NBs represent preferential targets in viral infections. In the case of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, important characteristics are non-responsiveness to IFN-therapy and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanisms which lead to development of HCC are larg…