The data obtained imply that exposure to native HCV can have an impact on the relative frequencies
of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells by selectively suppressing CD4+ T lymphocyte proliferation and this may occur in both
the presence and the absence of measurable HCV replication in these cells. If the virus exerts a similar effect in vivo,
it may contribute to the impairment of virus-specific T cell response by altering cooperation between immune cell
subsets.