HCV offensive mechanisms versus host’s defensive strategies

At each stage of the life cycle of the virus, hepatitis C virus (HCV) interferes with the cellular antiviral mechanisms of the host. Therefore, HCV infection represents a fencing match between the virus and the host cell. The host’s defense depends primarily on activation of the immune response, including activation of interferon (IFN) signalling, expression of cytokines (TNF-α, IL-12, IL-10, IFN-α) and stimulation of cellular immune response (CIR) and humoral immune response (HIR). HCV offense relies on envelope mutation, evasion of the host immune response and interference with the endogenous cellular antiviral factors.