Immunobiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection: the role of CD4 T cells in HCV infection.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is yet another example of a pathogen that persists in the presence of a readily apparent immune response. As evidence for both humoral and cellular immune responsiveness is quite strong, our studies have begun to examine whether qualitative defects in CD4 T-cell responses to viral antigens may help to explain why HCV is not eliminated in the vast majority of infections. Direct evidence that CD4 T cells play a role in HCV persistence is lacking, but several observations are consistent with this possibility. Importantly, it does not exclude the role of antibody or killer T cells in the immunopathogenesis of HCV infection. In addition, we discuss the consequences of viral mutation and how naturally occurring variants in immunodominant viral epitopes can effectively suppress helper T-cell responses to wild type virus.
Eckels
D D
DD
Blood Research Institute, The Blood Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-2178, USA. ddeckels@bcsew.edu
Wang
H
H
Bian
T H
TH
Tabatabai
N
N
Gill
J C
JC
D017951:Antigen Presentation; D000940:Antigenic Variation; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D009154:Mutation
D016207:Cytokines; D006681:HLA-D Antigens