Hepatotropism of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection depends on the specificity of interaction between the virus and its receptors, host factors required for covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) formation, and nuclear factors promoting viral RNA transcription. Such requirement for HBV infection most likely are met in human kidney. Furthermore, multiple studies have identified many, if not all, markers of HBV infection in kidney cells. This review discusses the possibility that HBV does establish infection in human kidney. Recently, loss of serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) has become a key indicator of functional cure of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Given that human kidney is another potential target organ supporting HBV infection, antigen expression, and genome replication, the roles of kidney in the functional cure of CHB should be taken into consideration.
ZHU Dong2
,
YANG Cheng2
,
TONG Shuping1
,
LIU Shaojun3
,
WANG Yongxiang1
. Revisit the implications of kidney infection by hepatitis B virus[J]. Journal of Microbes and Infections, 2019
, 14(4)
: 230
-237
.
DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-6184.2019.04.006