Detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) negative strand RNA and NS3 protein in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC): CD3+, CD14+ and CD19+

摘要

Background Although hepatitis C virus (HCV) is primarily hepatotropic, markers of HCV replication were detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) as well as in ex vivo collected tissues and organs. Specific strains of HCV were found to be capable to infect cells of the immune system: T and B cells and monocytes/macrophages as well as cell lines in vitro. The direct invasion of cells of the immune system by the virus may be responsible for extrahepatic consequences of HCV infection: cryoglobulinemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.