[Immunomodulating effect of HCV during the development of chronic hepatitis C: toward new therapeutic approaches].
In France, HCV seroprevalence is estimated to be 1%. Most cases are related to illicit parenteral drug use. About 80% of patients infected by HCV will develop chronic infection with HCV RNA detectable in their serum. Factors involved in viral persistence are nor yet clearly identified. Patients who develop a chronic infection show a predominant Th2 response, but a weak Th1 response. This immune response imbalance could result from HCV interaction with dendritic cells functions. Several experimental and clinical studies support this hypothesis. New data on HCV strategy to establish chronic infection suggest that immmunomodulatory molecules could be useful to improve efficacy of therapy.
Institut de Virologie, Faculté de Médecine et Unité INSERM 544-3 rue Koeberlé-67000 Strasbourg.
Françoise
F
Stoll-Keller
Evelyne
E
Schvoerer
Christine
C
Thumann
Maria-Cristina
MC
Navas
Anne-Marie
AM
Aubertin
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation; D018450:Disease Progression; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines