Decorin and actin expression and distribution in patients with chronic hepatitis C following interferon-alfa-2b treatment.
OBJECTIVE
Chronic hepatitis C can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Interferon-alfa therapy may prevent the progression of the disease. The expressions of decorin and alfa-smooth muscle cell actin of the extracellular matrix play a central role in liver fibrosis. We set out to assess the expressions of these proteins in chronic hepatitis C patients, and to evaluate how they can be modified by interferon-alfa therapy.


METHODS
Twenty chronic hepatitis C patients received interferon-alfa-2b therapy for 6 months (group I) or 12 months (group II). Liver biopsy samples were taken before and after the therapy. The alfa-smooth muscle actin-positive cells were determined with a monoclonal antibody, and decorin expression was detected with a polyclonal antibody. The cells were evaluated with a semiquantitative scoring method. For statistical analysis, non-parametric methods were used.


RESULTS
Before the therapy, alfa-smooth muscle actin-labeled cells and marked decorin expression were present throughout all the acinar zones. Interferon-alfa-2b therapy resulted in significant decreases in both the number of alfa-smooth muscle actin-positive cells and the decorin expression. The alfa-smooth muscle actin-positive cells and decorin expression correlated with the histological activity index (R=0.72, p<0.03, R=0.68, p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that a large number of alfa-smooth muscle actin-positive cells and a marked decorin expression are frequent findings in chronic hepatitis C. Treatment with interferon-alfa-2b for 12 months reduced the number of labeled cells and the decorin expression. The results suggest that interferon-alfa-2b is capable of interfering with fibrogenesis in an early and presumably still reversible phase of chronic hepatitis C.
Jármay
K
K
First Department of Internal Medicine, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical University, Szeged, Hungary.
Gallai
M
M
Karácsony
G
G
Ozsvár
Z
Z
Schaff
Z
Z
Lonovics
J
J
Kovalszky
I
I
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058575:Decorin; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000378:metabolism; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D000199:Actins; D000998:Antiviral Agents; C546878:DCN protein, human; D058575:Decorin; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011509:Proteoglycans; D011994:Recombinant Proteins