Figure 6

Proposed model for HCV-induced programmed cell death.

Schematic representation of the proposed model for the induction of the multiple forms of PCD in response to HCV infection. HCV infection induces at least two forms of programmed cell death in the infected cells: apoptosis and pyroptosis. Apoptosis is also induced in the neighbouring uninfected cells (bystander apoptosis) in a cell-cell contact-dependent manner, presumably by an interaction between a death ligand expressed on the surface of infected cell and a death receptor expressed on the surface of the bystander cell. The induction of bystander pyroptosis is cell-cell contact independent and is mediated by an as yet undetermined soluble factor.