Intrahepatic enhanced expression of beta2-microglobulin conformational epitope in acute liver allograft rejection: evidence of modulation by glucocorticoids.
The mechanisms by which glucocorticoids are effective in acute liver rejection therapy are not entirely clear. The aims of this study were to characterize the intrahepatic immunological phenotype in acute liver rejection, as well as the effect of glucocorticoids on cytokine-stimulated hepatocyte cell lines. Biopsy sections from these patients were studied by immunohistochemistry. Cytokine-stimulated hepatocyte cell lines treated with glucocorticoids were evaluated by flow cytometry. The intrahepatic expression of both beta2-microglobulin conformational epitope and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 was higher in acute rejection than in resolving rejection. Interestingly, glucocorticoids were able to modulate in vitro the cytokine-induced expression of these molecules on hepatocyte cell lines. Beneficial effects of the glucocorticoid treatment appear to be associated with a modulation of a beta2-microglobulin conformational epitope and the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 on intrahepatic cellular targets in the acute rejection process.
García-Monzón
C
C
Liver Unit, Hospital de la Princesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain.
Majano
P L
PL
Solís
J A
JA
Rodríguez
S
S
Colina
F
F
López-Botet
M
M
Moreno-González
E
E
Moreno-Otero
R
R
D000208:Acute Disease; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000276:immunology*; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D016207:Cytokines; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000939:Epitopes; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D000099192:CD69 Antigens