Downregulation of TIPE2 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Purpose Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection causes chronic hepatitis in approximately 80 % of cases. Although it is well recognized that the immune system plays an important role in determining the outcomes of HCV infection, the underlying molecular mechanisms of persistent HCV infection and hepatic injury are incompletely understood. Tumor necrosis factor-α-induced protein 8-like 2 (TNFAIP8L2, TIPE2) is a newly identified negative regulator of innate and adaptive immunity. The goal of the present study is to investigate the potential role of TIPE2 in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection.