Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Mixed Cryoglobulinemia

Figure 3

Pathogenetic model of cryoglobulinemic tissue damage. HCV core protein, which has been detected in cryoprecipitate immune complexes, interacts with C1q protein and the receptor for the globular domain of C1q protein (gC1q-R) on the surface of both circulating blood and endothelial cells. Cryoprecipitating immune complexes, including gC1qR complexed to HCV core and C1q proteins, bind in turn IgM molecules with rheumatoid factor activity linked to anti-HCV IgG.