[Fundamental studies of hepatitis C virus: a review]

In 1974, Prince et al. reported the existence of posttransfusion hepatitis with a long incubation period which was not related to hepatitis B virus (HBV). These cases were named "non-A, non-B" (NANB) hepatitis. The genome of NANB hepatitis virus was discovered recently using a recombinant complementary DNA (cDNA) approach. It was termed the hepatitis C virus (HCV), and a specific diagnostic tool for the circulating HCV antibody (anti-HCV) was developed using a purified viral polypeptide derived from recombinant yeast expressing a small part of the HCV genome. HCV is believed to be the main cause of blood-borne non-A, non-B hepatitis worldwide, which frequently evolves to chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis, and which may also be involved in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. HCV is classified as part of the flaviviridae family and contains a positive-stranded RNA molecule by approximately 10 kb nucleotides. The HCV genome encodes a large polyprotein precursor, which is processed in structural nucleocapsid and envelope proteins and in non-structural proteins (NS1-NS5). Nucleotide sequence comparisons of distinct HCV isolates have shown a significant genetic variability between the different HCV strains. At present the diagnosis of HCV infection depends on various anti-HCV tests including second generation HCV Ab. Antigenic markers for HCV are being developed but the concentrations of HCV antigens in serum are at the lower limit of detectability by existing immunoassay technology. A polymerase chain reaction has been used to detect HCV RNA in the serum and liver. Serum HCV RNA disappears from serum after effective IFN treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)