Research advances in pathogenesis of autoimmune hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is liver parenchymal inflammation mediated by the autoimmune response of hepatocytes. Its clinical features include elevation of aminotransferases in serum, presence of various autoantibodies in circulation, hypergammaglobulinemia, and interface hepatitis in liver tissue. Although the etiology and pathogenesis of AIH have not been fully elucidated, a consensus has been reached on the theories of "genetic susceptibility" and "molecular simulation" , and "immunoregulatory disorder" remains a hot research topic for many scholars. This article reviews the research advances in the theories of "genetic susceptibility" , "molecular simulation" , and "immunoregulatory disorder" . Key words: Hepatitis, autoimmune; Patho-mechanism