Raspunsul gazdei la hepatita cronica virala B

This review discusses and tries to demonstrate the importance of proinflammatory and antiinflammatory cytokines in HBV infection. Hepatitis B virus is a virus that is both hepatotropic and non-cytopathic. It causes the development of liver diseases which could progress into both acute and chronic versions. The virus is very widespread and results in the death of quite a number of people each year. The outcome of the viral infection is a result of immunologically mediated event. This means that the outcome is determined by the response of the immune system of the host. The infection can lead to several different liver diseases as well as fibrosis and cirrhosis. When an infection occurs, there is an attempt by the body to fight it via the use of several mechanisms. One of these is the use of cytokines (which are proteins). There exist different kinds of cytokines of which interleukin-10 and interferon gamma are very important. Interleukin-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine which inhibits the effector mechanism of Th1 cytokines. It performs hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory functions and also upregulates Th2 cytokines. The function and relevance of this cytokine in the pathogenesis of liver diseases cannot be underemphasized. Interferon gamma, on the other hand, is a pro-inflammatory cytokine which seeks to eliminate and expunge the virus from the liver upon infection. It does this by congregating at the site of infection which subsequently results in inflammation and eventually liver fibrosis. This effect could be reversed by administering another type of interferon; interferon alpha.