The results of these experiments were following: After HCV mono-infection, five genes, including C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), interleukin 13 receptor subunit alpha 2 (IL13RA2), interleukin 1α (IL1A), interleukin 1β (IL1B) and matrix metalloprotease 1 (MMP1) were upregulated, on average, more than 1.9 fold in LX-2 cells during MLH co-culture. The gene discussed is MMP1; the disease is infection.