Journal of Clinical and Cellular Immunology
Open Access

Abstract

Inhibition of TNFa in Patients with Concomitant HCV Infection; Molecular Insights and Safety

Athina Pyrpasopoulou, Stella Douma, Eleni Gavriilaki, Panagiota Anyfanti and Spyros Aslanidis

Chronic viral infections, such as chronic hepatitis C, are major causes of disease worldwide. They represent model systems for the study both of sophisticated ways to elute host defense mechanisms, and of mechanisms to sustain inflammation, potentially leading to autoimmune manifestations as a side effect. Cytokines are central inducers and regulators of both immune-mediated virus clearance and of immunopathology. This review describes the potential implications of TNFa in the development and clinical progression of chronic hepatitis C infection. The frequency of chronic hepatitis C, its usually indolent course, and the current application of these biological agents for the management of continuously expanding therapeutic indices, renders the study of the molecular effects and safety of TNFa antagonists in chronic HCV carriers of particular clinical significance.