Hepatitis B virus transgenic mouse model of chronic liver disease.

A model for hepatitis B virus-associated chronic liver disease has been made using cloned hepatitis B virus DNA as a transgene in a severe combined immunodeficient host. These mice consistently support virus gene expression and replication. After adoptive transfer of unprimed, syngeneic splenocytes, these mice cleared virus from liver and serum, and developed chronic liver disease. This model will permit identification of the host and virus contributions to chronic liver disease in the absence of tolerance.