Immune dysregulation mediated by hepatitis C virus infection

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus, which is non-cytopathic, establishes persistent infection in majority of patients after acute infection, causing various degrees of clinical liver disease. To escape and survive, hepatitis C virus may take ingenious strategies. Hepatitis C virus gene products interact host proteins to evade host immune responses in addition to the appearance of quasispecies. Against hepatitis C virus infection, host may avoid extensive tissue damage by inducing the activity of regulatory T cells. Insights into this mechanism of immune regulation may help to future development of novel therapies against hepatitis C virus.