The role of the CD95 system in the elimination of Hepatitis B Virus-infected hepatocytes: implications for viral clearance

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and more than 350 million people are chronically infected with HBV worldwide. So far, it is known that apoptosis-inducing infiltrating cytotoxic T cells are involved in the elimination of HBV-infected hepatocytes. However, the direct molecular mechanisms activated in HBV-infected cells to sensitize them for apoptosis still remain unclear. The present study was designed to investigate both the influence of the hepatocytes' p53 status on the outcome of HBV infection and vice versa the influence of…