Hepatitis B is a form of hepatitis caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), which is transmitted through blood and genital tract. Hepatitis B affects nearly one-third of the world's population, especially in developing countries. However, among them, there are people who are infected with the B virus and can clear it on their own.

HBV has 3 types of antigens: HBsAg, HBeAg and HBcAg, corresponding to the 3 types of antigens above are 3 types of antibodies: anti-HBs, anti-HBc and anti-HBe. The presence of these antigens and antibodies is important in determining the disease, the type of disease as well as the progression of the disease. Currently, there is a preventive vaccine, which has significantly reduced the number of people newly infected with HBV.

The RON receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK; also known as MST1R) was first identified in 1993 in a cDNA library from human epithelial cells. RON belongs to the c-MET family of proto-oncogenes. This RTK family has only two members, RON and Met, with only 34% similarity overall; however, the tyrosine kinase regions of the receptors were quite similar at 80% similarity.