Molecular mechanisms of changes in TNF-alpha production by blood mononuclears in chronic viral hepatitis C.

Chronic viral hepatitis C is associated with decreased production of TNF-alpha by the peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes irrespective of virus genotype and degree of the morphological activity of the process in the liver. This process positively correlates with the increase in the content of TNF-alpha soluble receptor (molecular weight 55 kDa), which can play a role in the mechanisms of immunopathogenesis of long persistence of hepatitis C virus in the body.