HCV is capable of infecting and replicating in PBMCs, and HCVNS5 protein was expressed in PBMCs. The patients with minus strand HCV RNA in PBMCs showed a significantly lower 6-month sustained response to IFN, suggesting that minus-strand HCV RNA in PBMCs may be one of the factors influencing response to IFN therapy.

AIM:To evaluate the inhibition effect of HCV NS5A on p53 transactivation on p21 promoter and explore its possible mechanism for influencing p53 function.