Down-regulation of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 on hepatocytes in viral chronic hepatitis treated with interferon alfa-2b.
BACKGROUND
Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and lymphocyte function-associated antigen 3 are expressed markedly on hepatocytes in viral chronic hepatitis. The aim of this study was to determine whether treatment induces changes in the intrahepatic expression of adhesion molecules.


METHODS
The expression patterns of these molecules were studied in liver tissue from 12 patients with chronic hepatitis B and from 14 patients with chronic hepatitis C before and after treatment with interferon alfa-2b. Immunoperoxidase staining was performed in frozen liver biopsy sections.


RESULTS
Partial or complete responses to therapy were achieved in 7 (58%) of 12 patients with chronic hepatitis B and in 10 (71%) of 14 patients with chronic hepatitis C. In the first biopsy specimen, hepatocytes showed a marked expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1. In the second biopsy specimen obtained from responders, hepatocytes showed no reactivity in 4 patients with chronic hepatitis B and in 5 with chronic hepatitis C. However, its expression did not significantly change among nonresponders. A similar pattern of reactivity for lymphocyte function-associated antigen 3 was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Beneficial effect of interferon alfa-2b appears to be associated with a down-regulation of adhesion molecules on hepatocytes, suggesting that this novel immunomodulatory action of interferon could be important to induce a therapeutic response in viral chronic hepatitis.
García-Monzón
C
C
Liver Unit, Hospital de la Princesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain.
García-Buey
L
L
García-Sánchez
A
A
Pajares
J M
JM
Moreno-Otero
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D018968:CD58 Antigens; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D015703:Antigens, CD; D018968:CD58 Antigens; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1