Infectious disease

Cell culture studies suggest inhibiting ERN1 could help treat HCV infection. In HCV patients, levels of ERN1 activity in the liver were higher than in HCV-negative liver transplant patients. In an HCV-infected liver cell line, an ERN1 inhibitor tool compound decreased viability compared with vehicle. In HeLa cells expressing HCV NS4B transmembrane protein, the ERN1 inhibitor increased cell death compared with no treatment. Next steps include testing ERN1 inhibition in models of chronic HCV infection...