title: Multifaceted functions of B cells in chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) elicits T- and B-cell responses which are believed to play an important role in infection control. B cells have generally been neglected because they do not seem to significantly influence the course of HCV infection. In this review, B lymphocytes are viewed both as classical antibody producing cells, with the hypervariable region 1 being a biologically relevant target protein and as a model of virus-host interaction in lymphoproliferative disorders characteristic of persistent microbial infections.
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratories, Department of Infectious Diseases, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo and University of Pavia, Via Taramelli, 5, 27100 Pavia, Italy. m.mondelli@smatteo.pv.it
authors.forename: Mario U
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Mondelli
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000821:virology; D009154:Mutation; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C400562:HVR1 protein, Hepatitis C virus; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D014764:Viral Proteins