Flying under the radar: the immunobiology of hepatitis C. Review uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a remarkably successful pathogen, establishing persistent infection in more than two-thirds of those who contract it. Its success is related to its abilities to blunt innate antiviral pathways and to evade adaptive immune responses. These two themes may be related. We propose that HCV takes advantage of the impaired innate response to delay the organization of an effective adaptive immune attack. The tolerogenic liver environment may provide cover, prolonging this delay. HCV's error-prone replication strategy permits rapid evolution under immune pressure. Persistent high levels of viral antigens may contribute to immune exhaustion. Finally, the virus may benefit from the efficient enlistment of memory T and B cells in the pursuit of a moving target.

publication date

  • January 1, 2007

Research

keywords

  • Hepacivirus
  • Hepatitis C
  • Immune Tolerance
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Liver

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 34247612265

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1146/annurev.immunol.25.022106.141602

PubMed ID

  • 17067278

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 25