Adaptive immune response during hepatitis C virus infection

Figure 6 Scheme showing the role of T cell intrahepatic recruitment according to the degree of liver damage and viral control. In resolved hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection an adequate effector T cell response is attracted to the liver to clear the virus. After that, a memory T cell population is continuously patrolling the liver to keep under control viral traces. Nevertheless, in persistent infection, after HCV-specific T cell failure to control infection, a non-specific inflammatory infiltrate is sequestered into the liver, responsible of the persistent liver damage. CTL: Cytotoxic T lymphocytes.