Intrahepatic CD4 T-Cell apoptosis is related to METAVIR score in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus.
Scand J Immunol
; 62(2): 168-75, 2005 Aug.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-16101824
ABSTRACT
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection leads to liver injury, which is thought to be immune-mediated. Apoptosis of hepatic T cells could influence histological damage. We quantified peripheral and intrahepatic T-cell apoptosis in 28 patients with chronic hepatitis C by using cytofluorometric techniques. METAVIR score and HCV plasma viral load were determined. Six liver biopsies, obtained from controls without chronic hepatitis during hepatobiliary surgery, served as controls. In patients, liver T-cell apoptosis was upregulated compared to peripheral T cells 35 versus 7% for CD4+ and 56 versus 13% for CD8+ T cells (P < 0.001). Liver T-cell apoptosis levels from patients were increased compared to controls for both CD4+ (P = 0.041) and CD8+ T cells (P = 0.007). Nine patients exhibiting METAVIR scores A and F < or = 1 showed higher intrahepatic CD4+ T-cell apoptosis compared to the 19 patients with a higher METAVIR score (P = 0.001) and both histological activity and fibrosis were related to apoptosis level. There was also an inverse relationship between the level of intrahepatic CD8+ T-cell apoptosis and serum transaminase activity (P = 0.023). Our study shows immune compartmentalization, suggesting that the study of peripheral blood lymphocytes may not be fully relevant to the pathophysiology of HCV hepatitis, and that the severity of liver injury is inversely correlated with intrahepatic CD4+ T-cell apoptosis.
Buscar en Google
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Linfocitos T CD4-Positivos
/
Hepatitis C
/
Apoptosis
/
Hepacivirus
/
Hígado
Límite:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Scand J Immunol
Año:
2005
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Francia