Cosmin Constantin Oprea
Purpose of Review: ,ĞƉĂƟƟƐ C virus ŝnĨĞcƟŽn and the immune response in babies and adults.
Findings: The presence of MDSCs in new-borns makes ,ĞƉĂƟƟƐ C chronic in the ĮƌƐƚ years of life in the case of exposure to virus. The expansion of MDSCs allows the immune system to maintain the chronic ŝnĨĞcƟŽn with ,ĞƉĂƟƟƐ C because MDSCs are responsible for the ĚŝƐĨƵncƟŽn of the immune system and not the virus itself. MDSCs express CTLA-4, who is a protein receptor that ĨƵncƟŽnƐ as an immune checkpoint and downregulates immune responses. The expression of the CTLA-4 protein in the lymph node allows the mĂnŝĨĞƐƚĂƟŽn of ŚĞƉĂƟƟƐ C and allows the ŝnŚŝbŝƟŽn of T cells against HCV RNA.