TLR3 expressing CD14+ monocytes, determined by the percentage of TLR3 positive cells, were higher in chronic hepatitis C patients than those in healthy controls (P<0.001) (Fig. 2), and further increased after 12 weeks of treatment (P = 0.033 and P = 0.018, respectively), but returned to baseline level at 24 weeks in the two treatment groups (Fig. 3A and 3B). This evidence concerns the gene CD14 and chronic hepatitis C virus infection.