Enhanced expression of Bcl-2 in lymphocytes infiltrating into the liver of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.
The Bcl-2 family proteins are important regulators of apoptosis and have been implicated in the occurrence of autoimmune diseases. There have been reports that Bcl-2-positive lymphocytes play important roles in pathogenesis of at least some types of autoimmune diseases, including autoimmune hepatitis. In this study, we examined the role of Bcl-2-positive lymphocytes in the development of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). The expression of Bcl-2 in lymphocytes infiltrating into the liver was evaluated from liver biopsy specimens of 25 patients with PBC (stage I/II/III/IV, 11/3/8/3) and 24 controls with chronic hepatitis B (CH-B) or chronic hepatitis C (CH-C). Bcl-2 expression in lymphocytes infiltrating into the liver was investigated by immunohistochemistry using a monoclonal antibody to Bcl-2 with an avidin-biotin complex system. Significant overexpression of Bcl-2 in lymphocytes infiltrating into the liver was observed in the early stage of PBC, especially in areas of destructed bile ducts. Most of Bcl-2-positive cells were CD45RO-positive helper T-cells visualized by the double staining method. These results suggest that Bcl-2-positive helper T-cells may have important roles in the pathogenesis of PBC.
Deguchi
Akihiro
A
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kagawa Medical University, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho, Kita-gun 761-0793, Japan.
Arima
Keiji
K
Masaki
Tsutomu
T
Yachida
Mikage
M
Nakai
Seiji
S
Ito
Tetsufumi
T
Kita
Yuko
Y
Kurokohchi
Kazutaka
K
Watanabe
Seishiro
S
Kuriyama
Shigeki
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000378:metabolism; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000378:metabolism*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens