Hepatitis C virus and peripheral blood mononuclear cell

• Grant number: 13/02749-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2013
• End date: September 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Alci Barone
• Grantee: Antonio Alci Barone
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Carlos Eduardo de Melo

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus infection is worldwide the major cause of chronic liver disease and according to OMS, infects about 3% of global population. Although hepatocytes are the primary virus target, clinical and experimental evidences are showing an important tropism of HCV by immune cells, specially by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Despite this finding, the importance of immune system infection in the natural history of the disease is not understood. Based on this information, the aim of this project is verify the PBMCs cellular function in HCV infection in peripheral blood of patients with chronic hepatitis C in pre, during and post treatment with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin (RBV). (AU)