Pathogenesis of Experimental Viral Hepatitis

Abstract

EXPERIMENTAL studies with hepatitis viruses in animals and in cell-culture systems have provided basic information concerning the pathogenesis of virus-mediated liver injury and the host response to infection. We shall review the pathogenesis of viral hepatitis using data derived almost exclusively from experimental models. Information regarding clinical, pathological and epidemiologic aspects of human viral hepatitis and the already voluminous literature concerning the hepatitis B antigen (HB Ag) are not included, except where the experimental data can be used to interpret certain aspects of the disease in man. These topics have been thoroughly discussed in several recent review articles.^{1 2 3 4 5 6} Abbreviations Used . . .