Autophagy proteins promote hepatitis C virus replication.

Autophagy is a fundamental process for anti-viral defense. Not surprisingly, viruses have developed strategies to subvert or use autophagy for their own benefit. In cell culture, autophagy proteins are proviral factors that favor initiation of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Autophagy proteins are required for translation of incoming viral RNA. We propose that autophagy factors might support the delivery of incoming RNA to the translation apparatus and/or the recruitment of cellular factors required to initiate HCV translation.