Host and viral factors in the immunopathogenesis of primary hepatitis C virus infection.
Individuals infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) have two possible outcomes of infection, clearance or persistent infection. The focus of this review is the host mechanisms that facilitate clearance. The interaction between HCV viral components and the immune system ultimately determines the balance between the virus and host. Strong evidence points to the aspects of cellular immune response as the key determinants of outcome. The recent discovery of viral evasion strategies targeting innate immunity suggests that the interferon-alpha/beta induction pathways are also critical. A growing body of evidence has implicated polymorphisms in both innate and adaptive immune response genes as determinants of viral clearance in individuals infected with HCV.
Lloyd
Andrew R
AR
Centre for Infection and Inflammation Research, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. a.lloyd@unsw.edu.au
Jagger
Emma
E
Post
Jeffrey J
JJ
Crooks
Lee-Ann
LA
Rawlinson
William D
WD
Hahn
Young S
YS
Ffrench
Rosemary A
RA
D000917:Antibody Formation; D016679:Genome, Viral; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000235:genetics; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology