Reliance of Host Cholesterol Metabolic Pathways for the Life Cycle of Hepatitis C Virus
Figure 2
HCV Replicates on ER Membranes Involved in the Assembly of VLDL and Is Secreted Together with VLDL
The assembly of VLDL begins with the synthesis of apoB in the rough ER, resulting in the formation of a VLDL precursor that contains only a small amount of lipid. In the lumen of the ER, this precursor is fused with lipid droplets (enriched in triglyceride and cholesterol) to generate nascent VLDL. This reaction is mediated by MTP. The nascent VLDL particles, which contain both apoB and apoE, are secreted into plasma through exocytosis. The ER membranes involved in the assembly of VLDL are also enriched in HCV NS proteins and RNA. Replication of HCV on these membranes might allow the virus to attach to or become incorporated into VLDL so that HCV is secreted together with VLDL.