How does hepatitis B function?
How does hepatitis B function?
What is hepatitis B? Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection that causes inflammation (swelling and reddening) that can lead to liver damage. Hepatitis B, also called HBV and Hep B, can cause cirrhosis (hardening or scarring), liver cancer and even death.
What is the pathogenesis of hepatitis B?
Pathogenesis. Hepatitis B virus is dangerous because it attacks the liver, thus inhibiting the functions of this vital organ. The virus causes persistent infection, chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and immune complex disease.
How does hepatitis B virus infect cells?
HBV interacts with heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs), including glypican 5 in particular, on the hepatocyte cell membrane. HBV binds its receptor sodium taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (NTCP) and its coreceptor epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).
How does the body react to hepatitis B?
Numerous studies have shown that HBV employs active strategies to evade innate immune responses and induce immunosuppression. Some of the immune components targeted by HBV include dendritic cells, natural killer cells, T regulatory cells and signalling pathways of the interferon response.
How can hepatitis be transmitted?
You can get it through contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person. In the U.S., it’s most often spread through unprotected sex. It’s also possible to get hepatitis B by sharing an infected person’s needles, razors, or toothbrush.
What is e antigen in hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) is a secretory protein processed from the precore protein. It is a marker of HBV replication and infectivity. Its presence is usually associated with high levels of HBV DNA. During acute HBV infection, HBeAg appears shortly after the appearance of HBsAg.
What is the mode of transmission of hepatitis?
Transmission. The hepatitis A virus is transmitted primarily by the faecal-oral route; that is when an uninfected person ingests food or water that has been contaminated with the faeces of an infected person. In families, this may happen though dirty hands when an infected person prepares food for family members.
Does hepatitis B use reverse transcriptase?
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections rely on the proper functioning of the viral polymerase enzyme, a specialized reverse transcriptase (RT) with multiple activities.
How does hepatitis B virus replication?
The replication cycle of HBV begins with attachment of the virion to the hepatocyte membrane, a process that may be mediated through the pre-S1 region of the virion envelope. The virion is uncoated in the hepatocyte cytoplasm and the viral genome enters the hepatocyte nucleus.
How does hepatitis B interact with host immunity?
Increasing evidence indicates that HBV interacts with innate immunity signaling pathways of hepatocytes to suppress innate immunity. However, it is still not clear how HBV avoids monitoring by the innate immunity of hepatocytes and whether the innate immunity of hepatocytes can be effective against HBV if re-triggered.
What does hepatitis B do to the immune system?
HBV induces immune suppressive cells, such as MDSCs, NK-reg, and T-reg cells, through an immunosuppressive cascade. The excessive immunosuppression could contribute to an HBV persistent infection and the progression of liver fibrosis and HCC[105].