Genetic predisposition and environmental danger signals initiate chronic autoimmune hepatitis driven by CD4+ T cells

Background and aims: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is defined as a chronic liver disease with loss of tolerance against liver tissue eventually leading to cirrhosis if left untreated. 80–90% of patients can be treated with a life-long immunosuppression. Unfortunately there are strong drug related side effects and steroid-refractory patients. Therefore, there is a need for a model system to investigate the complex immunopathogenesis of this chronic disease and subsequently to develop new therapeutic interventions. Methods: We developed a new model of experimental murine AIH (emAIH) by a self-limited adenoviral infec…