ROLE OF TUMOR SUPPRESSORS P53 AND P73 IN THE CELLULAR DEFENCE AGAINST HEPATITIS C VIRUS

Introduction: Wild-type p53 (wtp53) and transcriptional active (TA-) p73 execute their tumor-suppressor function mainly by induction of apoptosis which can be counteracted by overexpression of the dominant-negative isoform of p73 (DNp73). The interaction of proapoptotic and antiapoptotic isoforms of the p53 family with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and p53-family dependent apoptosis may be an underlying mechanism of the diverse outcomes of HCV infection (clearance vs. chronicity). In this study we therefore aimed to clarify the impact of HCV infection on the activation of the p53-family as well as the influence of the…