Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (681 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Inflammation of the liver in humans caused by a member of the orthohepadnavirus genus, hepatitis B virus. It is primarily transmitted by parenteral exposure, such as transfusion of contaminated blood or blood products, but can also be transmitted via sexual or intimate personal contact.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Hepatitis B Virus Infection.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Blood-Borne Infections; Hepadnaviridae Infections; Hepatitis, Viral, Human
- Narrower topics
- Hepatitis B, Chronic
Related concepts
- Inflammation
- Liver
- Orthohepadnavirus
- Hepatitis
- Virus
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 70,215 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Hepatitis B” (counts retrieved 2026-10-29). 11,959 of them (17.0%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 23,165 records.
Reviews account for 9,528 records (13.6%) and meta-analyses for 927. Randomized controlled trials number 1,934 (2.8%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 23,165 |
| 2000-2009 | 14,733 |
| 2010-2019 | 20,358 |
| 2020 onward | 11,959 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 9,528 | 13.6% |
| Meta-analyses | 927 | 1.3% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 1,934 | 2.8% |
Method: PubMed query "Hepatitis B"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-29.
Reading the evidence in infectious diseases
Infectious disease evidence combines microbiology, epidemiology and clinical trials. Laboratory studies identify pathogens and how they cause harm; surveillance and outbreak investigations describe who is affected and how infection spreads; trials establish whether treatments and vaccines work. Results depend on place and time, because pathogens evolve and resistance patterns and population immunity change. Check when and where the data were collected, how cases were defined and how up to date the evidence is.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quercetin suppresses the progression of HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma by modulating the EGFR signaling pathway | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc by PMID 42284354 · DOI · PMC13262952 |
| Understanding HBV immunopathogenesis to inform future immune-based therapies | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc by PMID 42092701 · DOI · PMC7619530 |
| Hepatitis B Screening and Immunity Gaps in Cambodia: Should Vaccination Be Mandated for Healthcare Workers and Health Sciences Students? | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc by PMID 42147493 · DOI · PMC13178602 |
Quercetin suppresses the progression of HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma by modulating the EGFR signaling pathway [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundQuercetin, a bioactive flavonoid compound widely present in medicinal and edible plants, has demonstrated therapeutic potential against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
- Closing excerpt
- These critical outcomes provide a novel theoretical foundation for the targeted therapy of HBV-HCC using quercetin.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (314 words)
BackgroundQuercetin, a bioactive flavonoid compound widely present in medicinal and edible plants, has demonstrated therapeutic potential against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its specific mechanism in hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-HCC) remains unclear. This study aims to systematically elucidate the efficacy and molecular mechanisms of quercetin against HBV-HCC.MethodsIntegrated in vitro and in vivo experimental models were employed. The inhibitory effects of quercetin on HCC cell viability, proliferation, clonogenicity, and migration were assessed through CCK-8, EdU, colony formation, and scratch assays. Network pharmacology and molecular docking were integrated to identify potential targets of quercetin within HCC. Lentiviral transfection was used to construct HCC cell lines overexpressing HBx and EGFR, with key signaling pathways verified via Western blot. Additionally, a xenograft mouse model was established, and the EGFR inhibitor osimertinib was combined to evaluate quercetin's therapeutic efficacy and underlying mechanisms in HBV-HCC.ResultsThrough an extensive analysis of the target interaction network analysis of quercetin in HCC, this study identified and prioritized 29 potential therapeutic targets, with the EGFR recognized as the principal target molecule. The results of molecular docking experiments indicated that both EGFR and GSK3β exhibited good binding affinity. Subsequent in vitro studies revealed that quercetin substantially suppresses the growth and migration of HBV-HCC cells. It achieves this by dose-dependently suppressing EGFR, thereby attenuating the signaling of the downstream PI3K/AKT/GSK3β axis and concurrently reversing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. In vivo investigations, complemented by control studies using EGFR inhibitors, further validate that quercetin exerts its anti-tumor effects against HBV-HCC through specific targeting of EGFR and the suppression of the EMT program.ConclusionThis research validates the therapeutic effectiveness of quercetin in inhibiting HBV-HCC and elucidates the molecular mechanisms responsible for its action. Mechanistically, quercetin inhibits the PI3K/AKT/GSK3β signaling axis by targeting EGFR, thereby reversing the EMT process and ultimately impeding HBV-HCC progression. These critical outcomes provide a novel theoretical foundation for the targeted therapy of HBV-HCC using quercetin.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42284354 · DOI · PMC13262952
Understanding HBV immunopathogenesis to inform future immune-based therapies [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide, with more than 250 million people living with chronic infection despite effective prophylactic vaccination.
- Closing excerpt
- Collectively, preclinical and clinical data suggest that achieving durable off-treatment control will likely require approaches that address both viral replication, antigen burden and HBV-specific immune responses.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (203 words)
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide, with more than 250 million people living with chronic infection despite effective prophylactic vaccination. While current treatments provide durable suppression of viral replication and reduce liver-related complications, they rarely achieve functional cure, defined as sustained hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss after treatment cessation. Viral persistence is maintained by intrahepatic covalently closed circular DNA and HBV DNA integration, which sustain antigen production and contribute to immune dysfunction. This review summarizes current understanding of HBV immunopathogenesis across acute resolution and chronicity, emphasizing the compartmentalized and tolerogenic liver microenvironment, impaired innate sensing, and progressive dysfunction of HBV-specific B- and T-cell responses, including exhaustion phenotypes shaped by antigen specificity and intrahepatic priming. We also discuss immune correlates associated with functional cure, including partial restoration of polyfunctional HBV-specific T cells and intrahepatic immune remodeling. Finally, we discuss human clinical trials of immune-based therapies highlighting emerging combination strategies designed to couple antigen reduction with immune restauration, defined as the recovery of functional HBV-specific antiviral responses. Collectively, preclinical and clinical data suggest that achieving durable off-treatment control will likely require approaches that address both viral replication, antigen burden and HBV-specific immune responses.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42092701 · DOI · PMC7619530
Hepatitis B Screening and Immunity Gaps in Cambodia: Should Vaccination Be Mandated for Healthcare Workers and Health Sciences Students? [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major public health challenge globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where diagnosis, treatment, and vaccination coverage remain suboptimal.
- Closing excerpt
- Such measures represent pragmatic institutional safeguards that are critical to reducing occupational transmission, preventing long-term liver disease, and aligning national efforts with the World Health Organization's goal of eliminating HBV as a public health threat by 2030.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (164 words)
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major public health challenge globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where diagnosis, treatment, and vaccination coverage remain suboptimal. In Cambodia, despite more than two decades of inclusion of HBV vaccination in the national immunization program, protective immunity among healthcare workers and health sciences students is not routinely assessed. This policy-oriented perspective examines gaps in HBV immunity among health sciences students. Recent screening data from a Cambodian medical university (2025) reveal that more than half of students lack protective anti-HBs antibody levels, potentially exposing both healthcare providers and patients to preventable transmission risks. This article argues that Cambodia should strengthen nationwide HBV screening and consider mandatory vaccination and booster policies for high-risk groups-particularly healthcare workers and health sciences students. Such measures represent pragmatic institutional safeguards that are critical to reducing occupational transmission, preventing long-term liver disease, and aligning national efforts with the World Health Organization's goal of eliminating HBV as a public health threat by 2030.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42147493 · DOI · PMC13178602
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article The global prevalence of hepatitis D virus infection: Systematic review and meta-analysis [4]
- Research article Hepatitis B infection in the general population of China: a systematic review and meta-analysis [5]
- Research article Chronic hepatitis D and hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies [6]
- Research article Efficacy and safety of antiviral prophylaxis during pregnancy to prevent mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus: a systematic review and meta-analysis [7]
- Research article Changing prevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in China between 1973 and 2021: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of 3740 studies and 231 million people [8]
- Research article Hepatitis B virus reactivation associated with new classes of immunosuppressants and immunomodulators: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and expert opinion [9]
References
- Wang Z, Huang J, Huang D, An R, Tong G, Yuan W, et al.. Quercetin suppresses the progression of HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma by modulating the EGFR signaling pathway. . 2026. PMID 42284354 · DOI · PMC13262952
- Bossis M, Le PH, Asselah T, Baumert TF, Tonnerre P. Understanding HBV immunopathogenesis to inform future immune-based therapies. . 2026. PMID 42092701 · DOI · PMC7619530
- Sorn V, Rouse IL, On D. Hepatitis B Screening and Immunity Gaps in Cambodia: Should Vaccination Be Mandated for Healthcare Workers and Health Sciences Students?. . 2026. PMID 42147493 · DOI · PMC13178602
- Stockdale AJ, Kreuels B, Henrion MYR, Giorgi E, Kyomuhangi I, de Martel C, et al.. The global prevalence of hepatitis D virus infection: Systematic review and meta-analysis. J Hepatol. 2020. PMID 32335166 · DOI · PMC7438974
- Wang H, Men P, Xiao Y, Gao P, Lv M, Yuan Q, et al.. Hepatitis B infection in the general population of China: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Infect Dis. 2019. PMID 31533643 · DOI · PMC6751646
- Alfaiate D, Clément S, Gomes D, Goossens N, Negro F. Chronic hepatitis D and hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. J Hepatol. 2020. PMID 32151618 · DOI
- Funk AL, Lu Y, Yoshida K, Zhao T, Boucheron P, van Holten J, et al.. Efficacy and safety of antiviral prophylaxis during pregnancy to prevent mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Infect Dis. 2021. PMID 32805200 · DOI
- Liu Z, Lin C, Mao X, Guo C, Suo C, Zhu D, et al.. Changing prevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in China between 1973 and 2021: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of 3740 studies and 231 million people. Gut. 2023. PMID 37798085 · DOI · PMC10715530
- Papatheodoridis GV, Lekakis V, Voulgaris T, Lampertico P, Berg T, Chan HLY, et al.. Hepatitis B virus reactivation associated with new classes of immunosuppressants and immunomodulators: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and expert opinion. J Hepatol. 2022. PMID 35850281 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-29.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.