Pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C through viral infection and/or binding with B cells in patients

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Hepatitis C virus (HCV) can induce variety of the extrahepatic manifestations, such as lymphoproliferative and autoimmune disorders in patients with chronic hepatitis C. These disorders are thought to be associated with the abnormal activation of B cells. HCV also infects and associates with B cells frequently in the patients, speculating that this interaction leads to abnormal activation of B cells. In this study, we analyzed the correlation between the B cell infection and/or association with HCV and abnormal activation of B cells. Furthermore, we investigated whether these abnormalities were associated with resistance to the interferon-based therapy.