Hepatitis B virus infected hepatocytes

Hepatitis B virus infected hepatocytes are liver cells specifically targeted by HBV, a member of the Hepadnaviridae family, which enters via the sodium taurocholate cotransporting peptide (NTCP/SLC10A1) receptor on the hepatocyte surface, enabling species-specific hepatotropism. Once inside, the viral nucleocapsid uncoats, delivering partially double-stranded DNA to the nucleus where it forms covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), a stable minichromosome template for transcribing viral mRNAs encoding core, polymerase, surface antigens (L, M, S), and HBx proteins. These proteins drive replication: polymerase performs reverse transcription of pregenomic RNA into DNA within the cytoplasm, core assembles capsids, and envelope proteins facilitate virion budding, while massive production of subviral particles aids immune evasion. In chronic infection, infected hepatocytes promote progressive fibrosis, inflammation, and a high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma through persistent cccDNA, HBx-mediated oncogenesis, and dysregulated immune responses involving M1/M2 macrophages and neutrophils. Therapeutically, these cells are targeted indirectly by drugs suppressing replication (e.g., entecavir), blocking entry (e.g., bulevirtide), or enhancing clearance, though challenges persist due to cccDNA stability and viral integration.

Other names

HBV-infected cellsHBV-infected hepatocyteshepatocytes infected with hepatitis B virus

Blocking viral entry via NTCP receptor antagonism on hepatocyte surface, Inhibiting viral polymerase/reverse transcriptase to prevent DNA replication in infected cells, Promoting immune clearance of infected hepatocytes, Disrupting nucleocapsid assembly and pgRNA packaging within infected cells, Reducing cccDNA formation and persistence in hepatocyte nuclei