Research progress on the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus infection

The infection caused by hepatitis C virus(HCV) often disturbs the momeostasis of endoplasmic reticulum. Accumulation of replication intermediates can lead to endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS), which is closely related to the occurrence of many diseases. In order to prevent the harmful effects of endoplasmic reticulum stress, cells activate unfolded protein response(UPR) and apoptosis pathway. In early stage of virus infection, unfolded protein reaction is a main function to remove the proteins and other intermediates produced by the virus and when the infection deepens and the homeostasis is no longer to be maintained, the cell activates the apoptosis pathway. However, these pathways can also be manipulated by viral proteins to deepen infection and inhitit antiviral mechanism.