Spontaneous Control of HCV Is Associated With Expression of HLA-B*57 and Preservation of Targeted Epitopes

Our data indicate a role of HLA-B*57−restricted CD8+ T-cell responses in mediating spontaneous clearance and evolution in HCV infection, and viral strains containing epitope variants that are less recognized abrogate the protective effects of HLA-B*57. The finding that HLA-B*57−mediated antiviral immunity is associated with control of both human immunodeficiency virus−1 and HCV suggests a common shared mechanism of a successful immune response against persistent viruses.