ABSTRACT
Host innate and adaptive immune responses are essential for the clearance of hepatitis B virus (HBV). Patients with chronic HBV infection have defects in innate and specific immune responses against HBV, which cannot effectively eliminate the virus and may result in persistent virus replication and liver inflammation. In addition to direct inhibition of HBV, treatment strategies targeting host immunity, such as stimulating or restoring antiviral immunity, are also important methods to achieve functional cure in patients with chronic hepatitis B. The liver is the target organ for HBV infection, and therefore, the research on the impact of HBV infection on intrahepatic immune microenvironment has become a hotspot for the research and development of new drugs that regulate the antiviral immune response against HBV in the liver. This article reviews the recent research advances in innate immune response associated with HBV infection and the new strategies to activate intrahepatic innate immune response and achieve the cure of hepatitis B.