Intrahepatic expression of interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in chronic hepatitis C.
The intrahepatic expression of interleukin (IL)-1beta and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha was studied in liver specimens from patients with chronic hepatitis C (n=29) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC; n=12) and from normal controls (n=19). IL-1beta and TNF-alpha immunoreactivity was predominantly localized in sinusoidal cells, with IL-1beta immunoreactivity being weaker in chronic hepatitis C samples than in PBC or control samples, whereas no difference in staining intensity could be observed for TNF-alpha. On semiquantitation by reverse transcription/competitive polymerase chain reaction, IL-1beta mRNA levels were significantly lower in chronic hepatitis C than in PBC or control samples (chronic hepatitis C, 0.87+/-0.77; PBC, 7.96+/-3.32; control, 3.78+/-2.56 amole IL-1beta mRNA/fmole beta-actin mRNA; P<.001). In contrast, no significant differences in TNF-alpha mRNA levels were observed between the groups. The data suggest insufficient IL-1beta production by sinusoidal cells in chronic hepatitis C, which might facilitate viral persistence.
Dumoulin
F L
FL
Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Bonn, D-53127 Bonn, Germany. dumoulin@uni-bonn.de
Leifeld
L
L
Honecker
U
U
Sauerbruch
T
T
Spengler
U
U
D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology*; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D007375:Interleukin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha