Hepatitis C - Causes

What causes it?

Why HCV attacks liver cells is not well understood, but liver damage may be caused in at least three possible ways:

1. Direct cell damage. Viral cells are parasites that depend on normal cells to multiply. Once a virus enters a normal cell, the virus uses the cell’s DNA to make more virus, which is released when the normal cell dies. While other viruses are more likely to infect other body cells, HCV affects liver cells.
2. The development of immune complexes in the liver. Proteins that are formed by the body’s immune system to get rid of the virus, immune complexes may also cause damage to liver cells.
3. The action of T-cells. Specialized white blood cells that attack and kill substances identified by the body as invaders, T-cells may destroy liver cells instead of HCV because the virus is changing so quickly.