Hepatitis B virus surface proteins induce interferon response in the liver of HBV-transgenic mouse

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is associated with acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Interferon production is induced in host cells in response to pathogens: viruses, bacteria, parasites. Here we analysed transgenic mice (Tg) on two different genetic backgrounds (C57BL/6 and BALB/c) that overproduce the HBV surface proteins in the liver. This model allows studying liver disease that mimics many of the pathological events in humans upon HBV infection1. The aim of this study was to compare the hepatic gene expression of HBV-Tg on two different genetic backgrounds. Meth…