Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) strongly contributes to the
development of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. As HCV
replicates in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes, fibrosis or cirrhosis can result
from immune-mediated mechanisms.
In spite of the detection of many antivirals to help combat
the virus, little is known about suitable biomarkers for HCV virulence, patient
adherence to therapy, or the development of therapy resistance. Immunoregulatory
cytokines in HCV have previously been studied, but reports on elevated
levels of cytokines are inconclusive with one study even showing decreased
cytokine levels in HCV patients.
The standard treatment for patients with HCV is pegylated
interferon plus ribavirin administration, which results in the reduction of
serum cytokine levels. Indeed, interactions between HCV and the immune system
are important for efficient treatment and elimination of the virus.
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