EFFECTS OF SHORT RNA SEQUENCES ANALOGS AGAINST HCV GENOTYPE 4(A) IN REPLICON CELLS

Aim
To determine to what extent short RNA sequences structural analogs could inhibit HCV genotype 4a (ED43) replication in cultured cell with sub-genomic HCV replicons.
Method
HCV short RNA sequences designed to be structurally similar to X region in the 3’-UTR of HCV 1b genome, were inserted into BamH I and Hind III restriction sites in pSilencer 4.1 CMV puro plasmid, transfected into human hepatoma cells Huh 7.5 with subgenomic replicons  HCV genotype 4a (ED43/SG.Feo). 48 hrs after decoy transfection HCV RNA were isolated and quantified by real-time Polymerase chain reaction.
Results
 the RNA structure analogs 5B46, X12, X12a and X12b were able to inhibit RNA levels by 65.5%, 38.5%, 64.5% and 68% respectively, in HCV genotype 4a.
Conclusion
Despite the sequence dissimilarity of the HCV RNA analogs and HCV genome in the replicon cells, there were enough 3 dimensional structural similarities to inhibit HCV viral replication.