title: Class I and class II major histocompatibility complex antigen expression on hepatocytes: a study in children with liver disease.
abstract: Controversy exists regarding major histocompatibility complex antigen expression on hepatocytes. In this study, hepatocyte expression of class I and II major histocompatibility complex antigens was investigated in diseased and normal livers, using indirect immunofluorescent staining of mechanically isolated, viable hepatocytes. Hepatocytes were obtained from 76 children: 10 with autoimmune chronic active hepatitis, nine with primary sclerosing cholangitis, nine with chronic hepatitis B virus infection, five after liver transplantation, 19 with extrahepatic biliary atresia, 11 with alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, four with idiopathic neonatal hepatitis and nine with histologically normal liver. Immunohistochemistry was performed in all cases; flow cytofluorimetry was performed for class I antigens in 38 cases and performed for class II antigens in 18 cases. From three children with autoimmune chronic active hepatitis and two with chronic hepatitis B virus infection, isolated hepatocytes were also incubated with gamma-interferon before staining and analysis. By fluorescence microscopy, class I antigens were detected on hepatocytes from all children, the highest percentage (100%) of positive cells and the most intense staining were observed in untreated patients with autoimmune chronic active hepatitis or primary sclerosing cholangitis and in those with acute rejection of a liver transplant. Reduced class I antigen expression occurred in chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Class II antigens were only detected on hepatocytes from eight patients: three with autoimmune chronic active hepatitis and five with primary sclerosing cholangitis, all untreated. Flow cytofluorimetric analysis confirmed the results obtained by fluorescence microscopy, but it also demonstrated a weak class II antigen expression during liver allograft rejection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry, King's College Hospital, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lobo-Yeo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Senaldi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Portmann
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Mowat
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mieli-Vergani
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vergani
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008860:Microscopy, Ultraviolet
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D007371:Interferon-gamma