Hepatitis C Virus Attenuates Interferon-Induced Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I Expression and Decreases CD8+ TÂ Cell Effector Functions

IFN-induced expression of MHC class I is attenuated in HCV-infected cells by activation of PKR, which reduces the effector functions of HCV-specific CD8+ T cells. This appears to be an important mechanism by which HCV circumvents antiviral adaptive immune responses.