Abstract
Among seven human hepatitis viruses (A to E, G and TT virus), hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses are able to persist in the host for years and principally contribute to the establishment of chronic hepatitis. During the course of persistent infection, continuous intrahepatic inflammation maintains a cycle of liver cell destruction and regeneration that often terminates in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While the expression and retention of viral proteins in hepatocytes may influence the severity and progression of liver disease, the mechanisms of liver injury in viral hepatistis are defined to be due not to the direct cytopathic effects of viruses, but to the host immune response to viral proteins expressed by infected hepatocytes. In the process of liver injury, hepatocellular death (apoptosis) induced by the proapoptotic molecules of T cells activated following antigen recognition triggers a cascade of antigen nonspecific effector systems and causes necroinflammatory disease. Accordingly, the regulation of the immune response, e.g., via the cell death pathways, in chronically infected patients should prevent the development of HCC.
Keywords: viral hepatitis, hepatitis viruses, hepatitis b, hepatocellular carcinoma
Current Molecular Medicine
Title: Mechanisms of Viral Hepatitis Induced Liver Injury
Volume: 3 Issue: 6
Author(s): Yasunari Nakamoto and Shuichi Kaneko
Affiliation:
Keywords: viral hepatitis, hepatitis viruses, hepatitis b, hepatocellular carcinoma
Abstract: Among seven human hepatitis viruses (A to E, G and TT virus), hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses are able to persist in the host for years and principally contribute to the establishment of chronic hepatitis. During the course of persistent infection, continuous intrahepatic inflammation maintains a cycle of liver cell destruction and regeneration that often terminates in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While the expression and retention of viral proteins in hepatocytes may influence the severity and progression of liver disease, the mechanisms of liver injury in viral hepatistis are defined to be due not to the direct cytopathic effects of viruses, but to the host immune response to viral proteins expressed by infected hepatocytes. In the process of liver injury, hepatocellular death (apoptosis) induced by the proapoptotic molecules of T cells activated following antigen recognition triggers a cascade of antigen nonspecific effector systems and causes necroinflammatory disease. Accordingly, the regulation of the immune response, e.g., via the cell death pathways, in chronically infected patients should prevent the development of HCC.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Nakamoto Yasunari and Kaneko Shuichi, Mechanisms of Viral Hepatitis Induced Liver Injury, Current Molecular Medicine 2003; 3 (6) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1566524033479591
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1566524033479591 |
Print ISSN 1566-5240 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5666 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Recent Progress Toward Hydrogen Medicine: Potential of Molecular Hydrogen for Preventive and Therapeutic Applications
Current Pharmaceutical Design Evaluation of the Risk/Benefit Ratio of Old and New Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Recent Advances in the Probe Development of Technetium-99m Molecular Imaging Agents
Current Organic Synthesis The Multiple Roles of Vitamin D in Human Health. A Mini-Review
Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (Discontinued) Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Celiac Disease: Overlaps in the Pathology and Genetics, and their Potential Drug Targets
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Synthetic and Medicinal Prospective of Structurally Modified Curcumins
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Rationale for an Intraperitoneal Gemcitabine Chemotherapy Treatment for Patients with Resected Pancreatic Cancer
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery Anti-Inflammatory Approaches that Target the Chemokine Network
Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery Coumarin Compounds in Medicinal Chemistry: Some Important Examples from the Last Years
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry The Role of Flavonoids in Inhibiting IL-6 and Inflammatory Arthritis
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Recent Advances in the Development of Immunoadhesins for Immune Therapy and as Anti-Infective Agents
Recent Patents on Anti-Infective Drug Discovery Colon Cancer Therapy: Recent Developments in Nanomedicine to Improve the Efficacy of Conventional Chemotherapeutic Drugs
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Tumour Hypoxia and Technetium Tracers: In Vivo Studies
Current Radiopharmaceuticals Synthesis and Bioactivity of (R)-Ricinoleic Acid Derivatives: A Review
Current Medicinal Chemistry Radiosynthesis of N.C.A. Sodium [18F]Fluoroacetate and Radiopharmacological Characterization in Rats and Tumor-Xenografted Mice
Current Radiopharmaceuticals Drug Induced Cutaneous Manifestations due to Treatment of Gastrointestinal Disorders
Current Drug Metabolism How to Advise Aspirin Use in Patients Who Need NSAIDs
Current Pharmaceutical Design Molecular Targets in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST) Therapy
Current Cancer Drug Targets Heme Oxygenase-1 as a Target for the Design of Gene and Pharmaceutical Therapies for Autoimmune Diseases
Current Gene Therapy Current Concepts on the Genetics and Pharmacogenetics of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Do they Help in Clinical Management?
Current Genomics