title: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and autoimmune disease.
abstract: The etiology and pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases have long been an enigmatic subject that have involved genetic and environmental factors. Recent intriguing data has contributed to the mechanisms involved, including the relationship of infectious agents and loss of tolerance. This loss of tolerance is illustrated by the data on the immune response to Hepatitis B virus such as the molecular mimicry between HBV antigens and self proteins, the generation of immune complexes between HBV antigens and antibodies, and apoptosis/tissue damage resulting in the exposure of intracellular antigens to the immune system. In this paper, we review the current database related to HBV infection and a variety of autoimmune conditions, including autoimmune hepatitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, aplastic anemia, antiphospholipid syndrome, polyarteritis nodosa, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, thyroid disease and uveitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine B & Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, 52621, Israel.
authors.forename: Ram
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maya
authors.forename: M Eric
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Gershwin
authors.forename: Yehuda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shoenfeld
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018716:Molecular Mimicry
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens