HLA-I and HLA-DR antigenic profiles of 34 livers with HBV infection and 15 non-HBV infected livers were analyzed. HLA-I antigen was detected on the membrane of the hepatocytes in 19 infected livers, but not in the non-HBV infected livers except in one congenital polycystic liver. The number of HLA-I Ag positive hepatocytes were correlated with the extent of the liver damage, and the positive rate of HLA-I was lower in the livers of the high HBV reduplication group (HBeAg+, HBeAb-) in comparing with the group with low HBV duplication (HBeAg-, HBeAb+). Only in two cases of chronic active hepatitis, HLA-DR Ag was detected to be expressed on the membrane of hepatocytes. The expression of HLA-I Ag on the membrane of liver cells may play a role in the recognition of hepatocytes as targets for cytotoxic T-lymphocytes which may represent an important event in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular necrosis.