[Tropism of hepatitis C virus for leukocytes-- importance of the analysis of viral E1 and E2 envelope glycoprotein genes by sequencing]. / Tropisme leucocytaire du virus de l'hépatite C - intérêt de l'analyse des séquences des gènes des glycoprotéines d'enveloppe virales E1 et E2.

The ability of hepatitis C virus (HCV) to infect leukocytes could favour HCV pathogenesis. Although viral infection of these immunocompetent cells is poorly (or not) productive, the impact on their immunomodulatory functions could be important. Viral envelope glycoproteins E1 and E2, because of their crucial role in the recognition of viral receptors on permissive cells, could contribute to viral leukocytic tropism and, as a consequence, to the pathophysiology of HCV chronic infection.