Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses to the hepatitis C virus in humans and chimpanzees

摘要: Abstract Hepatitis C virus is remarkably well-adapted for persistence in its human host. At least 60% of infected individuals develop a chronic viremia that usually associated with significant long-term morbidity. Persistent replication humans and experimentally chimpanzees occurs despite the presence virus-specific, class I MHC-restricted cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity peripheral blood liver. The highly mutable RNA genome HCV may be key determinant avoiding elimination by this immune response. It hypothesized selection pressure shifts focus response from strong to weak epitopes, resulting compromised clearance hepatocellular damage.