HCV offensive mechanisms versus host's defensive strategies

ABSTRACT

At each stage of the life cycle of the virus, hepatitis C virus [HCV] interferes with the cellular antiviral mechanisms of the host. Therefore, HCV infection represents a fencing match between the virus and the host cell. The host's defense depends primarily on activation of the immune response, including activation of interferon [IFN] signalling, expression of cytokines [TNF-alpha, IL-12, IL-10, IFN-alpha] and stimulation of cellular immune response [CIR] and humoral immune response [HIR]. HCV offense relies on envelope mutation, evasion of the host immune response and interference with the endogenous cellular antiviral factors