Indistinguishable monocyte pathway activation in adeno-associated virus positive and negative paediatric liver explants

Abstract Adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV2) has recently been epidemiologically associated with severe childhood hepatitis, however the pathogenesis remains unclear. Here, we report excessive activation of monocyte pathways in liver explant tissue from cases compared with paediatric controls. Remarkably, this signature was indistinguishable for AAV2 positive and negative transplant cases. Our findings suggest a common pathway triggered by different viruses circulating during the outbreak, with similar severe clinical outcome.