Viral Hepatitis: Host Immune Interaction, Pathogenesis and New Therapeutic Strategies
Angela Quirino,
Nadia Marascio,
Francesco Branda,
Alessandra Ciccozzi,
Chiara Romano,
Chiara Locci,
Ilenia Azzena,
Noemi Pascale,
Grazia Pavia,
Giovanni Matera,
Marco Casu,
Daria Sanna,
Marta Giovanetti,
Giancarlo Ceccarelli,
Pierfrancesco Alaimo di Loro,
Massimo Ciccozzi,
Fabio Scarpa,
Antonello Maruotti
Affiliations
Angela Quirino
Unit of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Health Sciences, “Magna Græcia” University of Catanzaro “Renato Dulbecco” Teaching Hospital, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Nadia Marascio
Unit of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Health Sciences, “Magna Græcia” University of Catanzaro “Renato Dulbecco” Teaching Hospital, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Francesco Branda
Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, 00128 Rome, Italy
Alessandra Ciccozzi
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Chiara Romano
Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, 00128 Rome, Italy
Chiara Locci
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Ilenia Azzena
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Noemi Pascale
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Grazia Pavia
Unit of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Health Sciences, “Magna Græcia” University of Catanzaro “Renato Dulbecco” Teaching Hospital, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Giovanni Matera
Unit of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Health Sciences, “Magna Græcia” University of Catanzaro “Renato Dulbecco” Teaching Hospital, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Marco Casu
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Daria Sanna
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Marta Giovanetti
Department of Sciences and Technologies for Sustainable Development and One Health, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, 00128 Rome, Italy
Giancarlo Ceccarelli
Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Pierfrancesco Alaimo di Loro
Department GEPLI, Libera Università Maria Ss Assunta, 00193 Rome, Italy
Massimo Ciccozzi
Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, 00128 Rome, Italy
Fabio Scarpa
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Antonello Maruotti
Department GEPLI, Libera Università Maria Ss Assunta, 00193 Rome, Italy
Viral hepatitis is a major cause of liver illness worldwide. Despite advances in the understanding of these infections, the pathogenesis of hepatitis remains a complex process driven by intricate interactions between hepatitis viruses and host cells at the molecular level. This paper will examine in detail the dynamics of these host–pathogen interactions, highlighting the key mechanisms that regulate virus entry into the hepatocyte, their replication, evasion of immune responses, and induction of hepatocellular damage. The unique strategies employed by different hepatitis viruses, such as hepatitis B, C, D, and E viruses, to exploit metabolic and cell signaling pathways to their advantage will be discussed. At the same time, the innate and adaptive immune responses put in place by the host to counter viral infection will be analyzed. Special attention will be paid to genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors that modulate individual susceptibility to different forms of viral hepatitis. In addition, this work will highlight the latest findings on the mechanisms of viral persistence leading to the chronic hepatitis state and the potential implications for the development of new therapeutic strategies. Fully understanding the complex host–pathogen interactions in viral hepatitis is crucial to identifying new therapeutic targets, developing more effective approaches for treatment, and shedding light on the mechanisms underlying progression to more advanced stages of liver damage.
