Hepatitis is a disease of the liver characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells in the tissue of the organ. Hepatitis may occur without symptoms, but can lead to jaundice, poor appetite, and fatigue. Depending on the cause, hepatitis can manifest either as an acute or as a chronic disease. Acute hepatitis can be self-limiting can progress to chronic hepatitis, or can cause acute liver failure in rare instances. Chronic hepatitis may have no symptoms, or may progress over time to fibrosis and cirrhosis. Cirrhosis of the liver increases the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma. ConA-induced hepatitis animal model can be used for the research of screening for hepatitis therapeutic drugs and signal pathways on mediate hepatitis.
