Expression of the mucosal vascular addressin, MAdCAM-1, in inflammatory liver disease.
OBJECTIVE
The integrin alpha4beta7 and mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1) are involved in normal recirculation of lymphocytes between the blood and the tissues of the gastrointestinal tract. In this study we have examined the expression of MAdCAM-1 in human liver.


METHODS
MAdCAM-1 expression was determined in archival human liver tissues by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
While MAdCAM-1 was not detected in normal fetal or adult human liver, expression was observed in association with portal tract inflammation in a variety of liver diseases. Detailed analysis of liver biopsies from patients with hepatitis C showed a positive correlation between the portal/periportal component of the histological activity index (HAI) grade and the presence or absence of MAdCAM-1 expression.


CONCLUSIONS
MAdCAM-1 expression may be important in the recruitment of lymphocytes to the liver during inflammation.
Hillan
K J
KJ
Department of Pathology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
Hagler
K E
KE
MacSween
R N
RN
Ryan
A M
AM
Renz
M E
ME
Chiu
H H
HH
Ferrier
R K
RK
Bird
G L
GL
Dhillon
A P
AP
Ferrell
L D
LD
Fong
S
S
D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009088:Mucoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D017464:Receptors, Complement 3d / Q000378:metabolism; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing / Q000378:metabolism*
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D007136:Immunoglobulins; C504265:MADCAM1 protein, human; D009088:Mucoproteins; D017464:Receptors, Complement 3d; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing