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Elimination of hepatitis C virus RNA in infected human hepatocytes by adenovirus-mediated expression of ribozymes.

Authors :
Lieber A
He CY
Polyak SJ
Gretch DR
Barr D
Kay MA
Source :
Journal of virology [J Virol] 1996 Dec; Vol. 70 (12), pp. 8782-91.
Publication Year :
1996

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV), a positive-strand RNA virus, is the major infectious agent responsible for causing chronic hepatitis. Currently, there is no vaccine for HCV infection, and the only therapy for chronic hepatitis C is largely ineffective. To investigate new genetic approaches to the management of HCV infection, six hammerhead ribozymes directed against a conserved region of the plus strand and minus strand of the HCV genome were isolated from a ribozyme library, characterized, and expressed from recombinant adenovirus vectors. The expressed ribozymes individually or in combination were efficient at reducing or eliminating the respective plus- or minus-strand HCV RNAs expressed in cultured cells and from primary human hepatocytes obtained from chronic HCV-infected patients. This study demonstrates the potential utility of ribozyme therapy as a strategy for the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0022-538X
Volume :
70
Issue :
12
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Journal of virology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
8971007
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.70.12.8782-8791.1996