The pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is regulated by the host immunity and several metabolic factors affecting liver metabolism, including oxidative stress, insulin resistance, and hepatic steatosis. Both innate and adaptive immunity play an important role in HCV infection. Cytotoxic lymphocytes have a crucial role in viral eradication or viral persistence. Major cause of viral persistence during HCV infection could be the development of a weak antiviral immune response to the viral antigens, with corresponding inability to eradicate infected cells.
Keywords: hepatitis C virus - pathogenesis - immunity - Th1 immune response - Th2 immune response - regulatory T cells - Tregs/Th17 ratio - IFN-γ - TNF-α - IL-2 - IL-10 - TGF-β..