Immunohistochemical detection and significance of hepatitis C virus antigen.
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression and clinical significance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antigens in liver tissues of patients with liver disease.


METHODS
Hepatitis C virus antigen in paraffin-embedded liver tissues was detected by immunohistochemical method using polyclonal anti-HCV and monoclonal anti-HCV NS3.


RESULTS
Among the 252 liver tissues, 25 (9.92%) were positive for HCAg (detected with polyclonal anti-HCV), and 19 (7.74%) were positive for HCV-NS3 (detected with monoclonal anti-HCV-NS3). All of the 19 HCV NS3 positive tissues were also positive for HCAg. Their distribution in liver tissue was similar, locating in the cytoplasm of liver cells. In most tissues, the positive cells scattered in liver lobulus, without obvious approach to the necrosis and infiltration aggregation; while a few samples showed positive cells clustered or diffused, with some necrosis or/and inflammatory infiltration. Of the 252 sera samples, 71 had HCV antibody or/and HCV RNA, showing a good correlation between HCV antigen in liver tissues and HCV marker in sera, but the detection rate of HCV antigen in liver tissues was much lower than that of HCV markers in sera. Two cases had HCV antigen in their liver with no HCV markers in their sera.


CONCLUSIONS
Stored paraffin-embedded liver tissue can be used in the study of the immunopathology of HCV: no definite relationship between the expression of HCV antigens and liver damage has been found. Further study of the pathogenesis of HCV is needed.
Zhao
X
X
Clinical Immunology Research Unit, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical University, Wuhan.
Yang
D
D
Hao
L
L
D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000821:virology*; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000821:virology
D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens