Lipoviral Particles
In the bloodstream, HCV can circulate as a hybrid lipoviral particle that consists of lipoproteins tightly associated with the HCV particle. The specific components of the lipoviral particle include triglycerides, HCV RNA, capsid protein, E1 envelope glycoprotein, E2 envelope glycoprotein, apolipoprotein B, and apolipoprotein E. The diameter of these lipoviral particles is approximately 100 nm. The formation of the lipoviral particle facilitates HCV entry into hepatocytes and it protects HCV from antibody neutralization. The density of these lipoviral particles is similar to low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) and very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs) that normally circulate in the bloodstream.