Hepatic alpha-smooth muscle actin expression in hepatitis C patients before and after interferon therapy.
OBJECTIVE
The mechanism of hepatic fibrogenesis with chronic viral hepatitis is not well understood. Persistent activation of hepatic stellate cells is felt to play a role in the development of fibrogenesis and progression to cirrhosis.


METHODS
We determined the expression of hepatic alpha-smooth muscle actin, a marker of hepatic stellate cell activation, in 29 patients with chronic hepatitis C and varying degrees of liver injury and fibrosis. In addition to a baseline evaluation, we assessed the effect of interferon therapy on alpha-smooth muscle actin expression in 11 patients, including 6 with a sustained response to therapy. Specimens were evaluated by light microscopy for grade of inflammation and stage of fibrosis. Expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin was assessed semiquantitatively by immunohistochemical staining.


RESULTS
At baseline, all patients had alpha-smooth muscle actin expressed within the liver without an obvious correlation with the severity of liver injury. However, among sustained responders, a reduction in hepatic necroinflammatory activity was associated with a trend towards a decrease in alpha-smooth muscle actin expression. This however did not reach statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
Hepatic alpha-smooth muscle actin expression, as a marker of hepatic stellate cell activation appears reversible and tends to correlate with necroinflammatory activity.
Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1402 South Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63104, USA.
M A
MA
Khan
J E
JE
Poulos
E M
EM
Brunt
L
L
Li
H
H
Solomon
R S
RS
Britton
B R
BR
Bacon
A M
AM
Di Bisceglie
D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007249:Inflammation; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000378:metabolism*
D000199:Actins; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D016898:Interferon-alpha