Detection of the negative-strand hepatitis C virus RNA in tissues: implications for pathogenesis

The replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA is believed to occur via its transcription into a complementary, genomic-length RNA, the so-called negative-strand HCV RNA. This is based on the comparison with the replication of other members of the Flaviviridae family. Detection of the negative-strand HCV RNA in human tissues by semi-quantitative, strand-specific RT-PCR has contributed to the understanding of the HCV cell tropism and of the pathogenesis of HCV-associated disease manifestations. In particular, it was shown that the levels of intrahepatic HCV RNA are not correlated to the extent of the necroinflammation, but that a significant correlation was found with the liver steatosis. These results suggest that most liver disease associated with HCV infection is mediated by the host immune response. However, in some patients, most notably those infected with HCV genotype 3, HCV may cause a cytopathic effect, consisting in the lipid accumulation within hepatocytes.