title: Interleukin-1-producing plasma cells in close contact with hepatocytes in patients with chronic active hepatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In chronic active liver diseases (CALD) with viral aetiology, a population of plasma cells localised in the piecemeal necrosis areas was previously detected by means of autoradiography after in vitro 3H-proline incorporation, a method which proved much more sensitive than conventional immunohistochemical procedures. These plasma cells, characteristically located in niches among hepatocytes, in close contact with collagen fibrils, have been hypothesised to exert a role in fibrogenesis stimulation, and particularly in collagen synthesis, possibly through secretion of lymphokines. Specifically, we investigated the presence of interleukin-1, well known to play a crucial role in inflammation and production of collagen by epithelial cells, and to be present in activated plasma cells of myeloma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The immunohistochemical localisation of interleukin-1beta in biopsies of patients suffering from chronic active hepatitis was studied, using an affinity-purified rabbit polyclonal antibody.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The strongest interleukin-1beta immunostaining was observed in the above-described plasma cell population, identified by anti-immunoglobulin antibodies, and 3H-proline incorporation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ability of plasma cells to produce interleukin-1 during viral CALD suggests that in these pathologies plasma cells play a major role, mainly of paracrine nature. Interleukin-1, possibly together with other mediators, might in turn stimulate the production of collagen. Hepatocytes of the piecemeal necrosis area appear to be possible candidates for this synthesis, as they show a significant labelling after 3H-proline incorporation, which is absent from hepatocytes far from necrotic areas.
authors.affiliation: Centro Studi Malattie del Fegato, Ospedale S. Giacomo, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massimi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Di Biagio
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stefanini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001345:Autoradiography; D001706:Biopsy; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009336:Necrosis; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1