Fcgamma receptor expression on hepatic macrophages and histological activity of chronic hepatitis.
OBJECTIVE
Activated liver macrophages in chronic hepatitis express a high affinity receptor for IgG named FcgammaRI. This study was performed to find the difference in FcgammaRI expression between chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and C (CHC) with reference to histological activity.


METHODS
Consecutive patients with CHB (20 cases) and CHC (25 cases) were enrolled in the study. Inflammatory activity was evaluated using the modified histological activity index (HAI). FcgammaRI-positive macrophages were quantitatively measured by computer assisted morphometry.


RESULTS
Total HAI score was significantly higher in CHB than in CHC. Confluent necrosis was observed in significantly higher frequency in CHB at Stages 3 5 than in CHC. The percentage area of FcgammaRI-positive macrophages was significantly higher in CHB than in CHC. In CHB, the percentage area of FcgammaRI-positive macrophages correlated with total HAI (<0.01) as well as the degree of confluent necrosis (<0.01), interface hepatitis (<0.05) and portal inflammation (<0.05). FcgammaRI-positive macrophages accumulated mainly at the site of confluent necrosis. In CHC, no correlation was observed between activated macrophages and any histological categories.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that FcgammaRI-positive macrophages are associated with confluent necrosis in CHB, which is more common in CHB patients than in CHC.
Matsumoto
S
S
First Department of Internal Medicine, Okayama University Medical School, Japan.
Yamamoto
K
K
Nagano
T
T
Okamoto
R
R
Tagashira
M
M
Ibuki
N
N
Yabushita
K
K
Tsuji
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000378:metabolism*; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D017452:Receptors, IgG; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule