Natural control and clearance of hepatitis B virus infection

Jianyu YE; Bing WANG; Leyan GU; Yingting FAN; Jieliang CHEN

doi:10.12449/JCH260102

Volume 42 Issue 1

Jan. 2026

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Article Navigation > Journal of Clinical Hepatology > 2026 > 42(1): 7-13

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Natural control and clearance of hepatitis B virus infection

DOI: 10.12449/JCH260102

Jianyu YE^{1, 2},
Bing WANG^{1, 2},
Leyan GU^{1, 2},
Yingting FAN^{1, 2},
Jieliang CHEN^{1, 2
,
,
,}

1.
Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology，School of Basic Medical Sciences，Shanghai Medical College，Fudan University，Shanghai 200032，China
2.
MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology，Shanghai 200032，China

Research funding:

National Natural Science Foundation of China (82372234);

National Natural Science Foundation of China (32570162);

National Key R&D Program of China (2022YFA1303600)

More Information

Corresponding author: CHEN Jieliang， jieliangchen@fudan.edu.cn （ORCID： 0000-0002-9647-0239）
Received Date: 2025-10-31
Accepted Date: 2025-12-01
Published Date: 2026-01-25

Abstract

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus （HBV） is a unique hepatotropic DNA virus that forms covalently closed circular DNA within the nucleus of hepatocytes and can partially integrate into the host genome， establishing the molecular basis for persistent viral infection. HBV infection and replication depends on multiple hepatocyte-enriched host factors and is modulated by the hepatic microenvironment. The host achieves natural control and clearance of HBV through various mechanisms， including cytolytic elimination mediated by cellular immunity such as cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells， innate immunity and noncytolytic clearance driven by interferons and various cytokines， and antibody-mediated protection and clearance as part of humoral immune response. In addition， intracellular restriction factors and pathways， hepatocyte turnover through division and replacement， and changes in the hepatic microenvironment （such as the increase in matrix stiffness） collectively influence the efficiency and outcome of viral control and clearance. This article clarifies and elaborates on related mechanisms， so as to deepen the understanding of HBV chronicity， spontaneous resolution， and cure and provide a theoretical basis for optimizing clinical management and developing novel therapeutic strategies.
- Hepatitis B Virus,
- Covalently Closed Circular DNA,
- Antiviral Immunity

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References(45)

References

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Natural control and clearance of hepatitis B virus infection

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