TREATMENT OF HEPATITIS C INFECTION WITH METALLOPORPHYRINS

摘要

The present invention is directed to the treatment of hepatitis C infection with a metalloporphyrin. In particular, the present invention is based on the discovery that the NS5A protein plays a key role in HCV RNA replication by participating in polyprotein cleavage, interferon response and cellular signaling pathways. It has been found that metalloporphyrins, such as zinc porphyrins, induce post-translational down-regulation of HCV NS5A protein in an ubquitin-proteasome degradation pathway. That is, metal loporphyrins can be used to activate the ubiquitin-proteasomal pathway of NS5A protein catabolism. As a result, metal loporphyrins can be used to significantly suppress HCV viral replication in HCV infected cells.