Fig. 1.
Altered cytokine response in hepatitis C virus infection. Spontaneous release of (a) interleukin (IL)-6, (b) tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and (c) IL-1β. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy controls or infected patients were cultured in medium only. Supernatants recovered at 16 h of culture were tested for released cytokines. Data shown represent total values of secreted IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β in pg /mL. Group values that were significantly different (*P < 0.05) are indicated in each plot.