Anti-rods/rings autoantibody generation in hepatitis C patients during interferon-α/ribavirin therapy

Figure 2 Anti-rods and rings autoantibody production in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Ribavirin therapy leads cells to present RR structures, while interferon-α stimulates the host immune system. These factors, plus others yet to be confirmed, could contribute to the tolerance breakdown with autoantibody production against RR structures, whose levels increase during treatment. RR: Rods and rings; HCV: Hepatitis C virus; IFN: Interferon.