[Apoptosis in human diseases: role of Fas system in liver cell injury by viral hepatitis].
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) are major causative agents of chronic liver disease. However, the mechanisms responsible for liver cell injury remain to be clarified. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes play a crucial role in liver cell injury by HCV or HBV infection. Recently, perforin and Fas ligand have been shown to be the only molecules causing T cell-mediated cytotoxicity in short term assays. Therefore, we examined the implication of the Fas system-mediated apoptosis in the liver cell injury. When examined by immunohistochemical method, Fas antigen expression in chronic hepatitis C or B was upregulated in accordance with the severity of liver inflammation. Furthermore, Fas ligand expression was detected in liver-infiltrating mononuclear cells obtained from patients with chronic hepatitis C. These observations suggest that the Fas system plays a dominant role in liver cell injury by viral hepatitis.
Mita
E
E
1st Department of Medicine, Osaka University School of Medicine, Suita.
Hayashi
N
N
D017209:Apoptosis; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*
D019014:fas Receptor