Mundt et al. (2003) demonstrated that apoptosis in virally infected hepatocytes is facilitated by the TRAIL-DR5 pathway, enabling the selective elimination of virus-infected hepatocytes while sparing normal cells, proposing DR5 agonists as a viable treatment for viral hepatitis. In contrast, Liu et al. (2007) reported that an sDR5 antagonist could reduce liver damage by blocking TRAIL-induced apoptosis in HBV-infected hepatocytes, underscoring the complexity and crucial role of the TRAIL-DR5 system in the pathogenesis of viral hepatitis. The gene discussed is TNFRSF10B; the disease is animal viral hepatitis.