RESUMO
The ability of hepatitis C virus (HCV) to infect leukocytes could favour HCV pathogenesis. Although viral infection of these immunocompetent cells is poorly (or not) productive, the impact on their immunomodulatory functions could be important. Viral envelope glycoproteins E1 and E2, because of their crucial role in the recognition of viral receptors on permissive cells, could contribute to viral leukocytic tropism and, as a consequence, to the pathophysiology of HCV chronic infection.
Assuntos
Genes Virais , Hepacivirus/fisiologia , Leucócitos/virologia , RNA Viral/genética , Proteínas do Envelope Viral/genética , Tropismo Viral/genética , Hepacivirus/genética , Hepatite C Crônica/sangue , Hepatite C Crônica/fisiopatologia , Hepatite C Crônica/virologia , Humanos , Análise de Sequência de RNA , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , Proteínas do Envelope Viral/química , Proteínas do Envelope Viral/fisiologiaRESUMO
Besides hepatocytes, representing the main replication site of hepatitis C virus, peripheral blood mononuclear cells also represent a crucial target for viral infection. Hepatitis C virus compartmentalization (i.e., non-random distribution) of viral variants between plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, more frequently observed in liver transplant patients compared to non-transplanted patients, makes liver transplantation an interesting model for the analysis of hepatitis C leukotropism. This article aims to present, firstly, in clinical and biological features arguing favour of hepatitis C virus infection leukotropism and, secondly, to review current knowledge about compartmentalization between plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, especially in the liver transplantation setting.