HBV Infection and DNA Stimulation Induce a Unique Innate Immune Response in Hepatocytes

Background and Aims: Recent identification of intracellular DNA sensing pathways and involvement in numerous diverse disease processes including viral pathogenesis and autoimmunity suggests a role for these processes in liver pathology. The presence of these pathways in the liver and their role in HBV infection is unknown. Methods: In order to characterize the role of DNA sensing pathways in the liver, we utilized in vitro models. Microarray was performed on DNA treated and HBV infected hepatoma primary human hepatocytes. Results: Here we show that HBV infection and foreign DNA results in a significant innate immune response characterized by the production of inflammatory chemokines.

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Yoneda M, Hyun J, Jakubski S, Saito S, Nakajima A, Schiff ER, Thomas E