Fatty liver checkmates hepatitis B virus

Excerpt

In Asia-Pacific region, viral infections due to hepatitis B and C viruses are major etiological risk factors for liver disease and liver failure. However, a major concern now is the emergence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A close association between the coexistence of NAFLD with liver diseases such as hepatitis C virus, alcoholic liver disease and hemochromatosis is quite common. There are only few meta-analysis studies on the association between hepatitis B virus (HBV) and NAFLD and they are mostly these studies are from the Asia-Pacific region. Further, the fatty liver–HBV link as reported in epidemiological studies and in vitro cell culture studies are contradictory. To understand the HBV–fatty liver conundrum, a clinical animal model is of utmost importance. In this issue of Hepatology International, Hu et al. [1] have made use of the HBV-immunocompetent mouse model to demonstrate that hepatic steatosis inhibited HBV replication. …