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Adaptive immune responses in acute and chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Nature volume 436, pages 946–952 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) persists in the majority of infected individuals and is a significant cause of human illness and death globally. Recent studies have yielded important insights into immunity to HCV, in particular revealing the central role of T cells in viral control and clearance. Other key features of adaptive immune responses remain obscure, including mechanisms by which T cells control HCV replication, the role of antibodies in conferring protection and how cellular and humoral immunity are subverted in persistent infection.

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Figure 1: Schematic representation of the cellular immune response during acute HCV infection.
Figure 2: Schematic representation of memory response to homologous HCV re-challenge, and outcome of a third challenge following CD4+ T-cell depletion.
Figure 3: Possible mechanisms of immune evasion by the hepatitis C virus.

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Acknowledgements

Our research was supported by Public Health Service grants to C.M.W. D.G.B. was supported by a C.J. Martin Fellowship from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia and an AstraZeneca Fellowship in Medical Research from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

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  1. Center for Vaccines and Immunity, Columbus Children's Research Institute, Columbus, OH 43205, Ohio, USA

    David G. Bowen & Christopher M. Walker

  2. College of Medicine and Public Health, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA

    Christopher M. Walker

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Bowen, D., Walker, C. Adaptive immune responses in acute and chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Nature 436, 946–952 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature04079

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