Fig. 6.

Schematic diagram of the proposed model of HCV-mediated transcriptional regulation of the HAMP gene. HCV core up-regulates HAMP gene expression through interaction with CK2 that confers activation of the STAT3 and BMP/SMAD signaling pathways. The respective transcription factors enter the nucleus and occupy the STAT and BMP cis-acting elements in HAMP proximal promoter, resulting in elevated HAMP gene expression promoter activity, mRNA, and protein levels. P phosphorylation events, ? unknown reaction steps