Quirino Angela, Marascio Nadia, Branda Francesco, Ciccozzi Alessandra, Romano Chiara, Locci Chiara, Azzena Ilenia, Pascale Noemi, Pavia Grazia, Matera Giovanni, Casu Marco, Sanna Daria, Giovanetti Marta, Ceccarelli Giancarlo, Alaimo di Loro Pierfrancesco, Ciccozzi Massimo, Scarpa Fabio, Maruotti Antonello
Unit of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Health Sciences, "Magna Græcia" University of Catanzaro "Renato Dulbecco" Teaching Hospital, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, 00128 Rome, Italy.
Pathogens. 2024 Sep 5;13(9):766. doi: 10.3390/pathogens13090766.
Viral hepatitis is a major cause of liver illness worldwide. Despite advances in the understanding of these infections, the pathogenesis of hepatitis remains a complex process driven by intricate interactions between hepatitis viruses and host cells at the molecular level. This paper will examine in detail the dynamics of these host-pathogen interactions, highlighting the key mechanisms that regulate virus entry into the hepatocyte, their replication, evasion of immune responses, and induction of hepatocellular damage. The unique strategies employed by different hepatitis viruses, such as hepatitis B, C, D, and E viruses, to exploit metabolic and cell signaling pathways to their advantage will be discussed. At the same time, the innate and adaptive immune responses put in place by the host to counter viral infection will be analyzed. Special attention will be paid to genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors that modulate individual susceptibility to different forms of viral hepatitis. In addition, this work will highlight the latest findings on the mechanisms of viral persistence leading to the chronic hepatitis state and the potential implications for the development of new therapeutic strategies. Fully understanding the complex host-pathogen interactions in viral hepatitis is crucial to identifying new therapeutic targets, developing more effective approaches for treatment, and shedding light on the mechanisms underlying progression to more advanced stages of liver damage.
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