title: Expression of co-stimulatory molecules by Kupffer cells in chronic hepatitis of hepatitis C virus etiology.
abstract: In this paper we show that in viral hepatitis most Kupffer cells (KCs) are activated and express high levels of CD80, CD40, and class-II MHC molecules, thus acquiring the phenotype of professional antigen presenting cells (APCs). Activated KCs display a close contact with CD4+ T lymphocytes and form KCs-T lymphocyte clusters. Clusters are found within the sinusoids, across the sinusoid wall, and within the liver parenchyma as well, as a consequence of transendothelial migration (TEM). The positivity of activated KCs for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antigens, which likely reflects phagocytosis of infected hepatocytes, suggests that KCs-T cell clusters represent the morphological expression of the functional interaction between KCs acting as professional APCs and antigen-experienced CD4+ T lymphocytes within the liver. These phenotypic and morphological changes are distinct features of livers in chronic hepatitis patients compared with controls.
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Andrea Cesalpino and Instituto di Clinica Medica 1, Università La Sapienza, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Burgio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ballardini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Artini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caratozzolo
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levrero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D018122:B7-1 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II