Binding, Uptake and Presentation of Hepatitis C Virus-like Particles by Human Dendritic Cells: Implications for Vaccine Development

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic hepatitis worldwide. The development of a vaccine will be pivotal for the prevention of HCV-induced liver disease including advanced liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Noninfectious hepatitis C virus-like particles (HCV-LPs) derived from the HCV structural proteins are a promising vaccine candidate. In mice, HCV-LPs induce a strong virus-specific humoral and cellular immune response. The interaction of HCV-LPs with the human cellular immune system has not yet been characterized. In this study, we analyzed the interaction of HCV-LPs with human dendrit…