title: Pathogenesis of hepatitis B virus infection.
abstract: Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) leads to a wide spectrum of clinical presentations ranging from an asymptomatic carrier state to self-limited acute or fulminant hepatitis to chronic hepatitis with progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Infection with HBV is one of the most common viral diseases affecting man. Both viral factors as well as the host immune response have been implicated in the pathogenesis and clinical outcome of HBV infection. In this review, we will discuss the impact of virus-host interactions for the pathogenesis of HBV infection and liver disease. These interactions include the relevance of naturally occurring viral variants for clinical disease, the role of virus-induced apoptosis for HBV-induced liver cell injury and the impact of antiviral immune responses for outcome of infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine I, Schlosspark Klinik, Teaching Hospital of the Charite, Humboldt University, Heubnerweg 2, D-14059 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Baumert
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thimme
authors.forename: Fritz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: von Weizsäcker
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D018450:Disease Progression; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral