The p53 family is involved in the elimination of Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected hepatocytes

The p53 family members each use multiple promoters and alternative splicing to generate an array of isoforms. Full length isoforms with a transactivation (TA-) domain activate target genes exerting roles in the apoptosis signaling. Dominant-negative (ΔN-) isoforms can oppose the transactivation capabilities of the TA-isoforms. We have previously shown that the CD95 gene is a target gene of the p53 family and that an intact CD95-mediated apoptosis signaling pathway is essential for the elimination of an HBV-infection in vivo.This study was designed to analyze the influence of the p53 family status on the outcome…