Immune-mediated Liver Injury in Hepatitis B Virus Infection.

Author: In Soo OH ¹ ; Su Hyung PARK
Author Information

1. Laboratory of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Korea.
Publication Type:Review
Keywords: Hepatitis B Virus; Pathogenesis; Immune response
MeSH: Adaptive Immunity; Fibrosis; Hepatitis B virus*; Hepatitis B*; Hepatitis*; Liver Diseases; Liver Neoplasms; Liver*
From:Immune Network 2015;15(4):191-198
CountryRepublic of Korea
Language:English
Abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is responsible for approximately 350 million chronic infections worldwide and is a leading cause of broad-spectrum liver diseases such as hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. Although it has been well established that adaptive immunity plays a critical role in viral clearance, the pathogenetic mechanisms that cause liver damage during acute and chronic HBV infection remain largely known. This review describes our current knowledge of the immune-mediated pathogenesis of HBV infection and the role of immune cells in the liver injury during hepatitis B.