Tumor necrosis family receptor superfamily member 9/tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 1 pathway on hepatitis C viral persistence and natural history

Figure 1 Theoretical model of liver damage during chronic viral hepatitis due to non-specific inflammatory infiltrate. Left-side: Depiction of an efficient hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific cytotoxic T cell (CTL) controlling HCV in the liver; Right-side: Depiction of HCV-specific exhausted CTLs unable to control HCV replication. Hepatocytes steadily secrete chemokines that attract specific and non-specific infiltrate, the latter of which is responsible for liver damage. CTL: Cytotoxic T cell; HCV: Hepatitis C virus.