Hepatitis B Precore Protein: Pathogenic Potential and Therapeutic Promise
Yonsei Medical Journal
;
: 875-885, 2012.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-173363
ABSTRACT
Hepatitis B virus (HBV), a small and economically packaged double-stranded DNA virus, represents an enormous global health care burden. In spite of an effective vaccine, HBV is endemic in many countries. Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) results in the development of significant clinical outcomes such as liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which are associated with high mortality rates. HBV is a non-cytopathic virus, with the host's immune response responsible for the associated liver damage. Indeed, HBV appears to be a master of manipulating and modulating the immune response to achieve persistent and chronic infection. The HBV precore protein or hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) is a key viral protein involved in these processes, for instance though the down-regulation of the innate immune response. The development of new therapies that target viral proteins, such as HBeAg, which regulates of the immune system, may offer a new wave of potential therapeutics to circumvent progression to CHB and liver disease.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Viral Proteins
/
DNA
/
Down-Regulation
/
Hepatitis B virus
/
Global Health
/
Mortality
/
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
/
Hepatitis B, Chronic
/
Hepatitis
/
Hepatitis B
Type of study:
Prognostic study
Language:
English
Journal:
Yonsei Medical Journal
Year:
2012
Type:
Article
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