Martin K Thomsen, Ramya Nandakumar, Daniela Stadler, Antje Malo, Roser Marin Valls, Fan Wang, Line S Reinert, Frederik Dagnaes-Hansen, Anne Kruse Hollensen, Jacob Giehm Mikkelsen, Ulrike Protzer, Søren R Paludan
UNLABELLED: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major human pathogen, and about one third of the global population will be exposed to the virus in their lifetime. HBV infects hepatocytes, where it replicates its DNA and infection can lead to acute and chronic hepatitis with a high risk of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite this, there is limited understanding of how HBV establishes chronic infections. In recent years it has emerged that foreign DNA potently stimulates the innate immune response, particularly type 1 interferon (IFN) production; and this occurs through a pathway dependent on the DNA sensor cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase and the downstream adaptor protein stimulator of IFN genes (STING)...
September 2016: Hepatology: Official Journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases