title: Increased expression of T cell chemokines and their receptors in chronic hepatitis C: relationship with the histological activity of liver disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although chemokines seem to be important in certain inflammatory disorders, little is known about the role of these proteins in chronic hepatitis C.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression of selected CXC and CC chemokines and their receptors was assessed by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry in chronic hepatitis C. Tissue samples from normal liver and that of sustained responders were also evaluated. A comparative analysis between the histological grading and the intrahepatic expression level of chemokines was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of liver-derived T lymphocytes expressed CXCR3 and CCR5 chemokine receptors, representing high enrichment over levels of CXCR3 + and CCR5 + T cells in blood from chronic hepatitis C. An intense intrahepatic expression of their respective ligands, the CXC chemokine Mig, and RANTES, was detected in the same patients studied, being restricted to the sinusoidal endothelium and to hepatocytes, respectively. A statistically significant association between the intrahepatic chemokine expression level and the inflammatory activity of chronic hepatitis C was found. Of note was the marked expression of both CXCR3 and its ligand Mig on endothelial cells from portal neovessels in chronic hepatitis C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intrahepatic chemokine signaling could play a key role regulating significant pathological events during chronic hepatitis C, opening new avenues for therapeutic interventions based on chemokine activities.
authors.affiliation: Hepatology Unit, University Hospital Santa Cristina, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Arantxa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Apolinario
authors.forename: Pedro L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Majano
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Pérez
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saez
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lozano
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: García-Monzón
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018946:Chemokine CCL5 / Q000032:analysis; D054370:Chemokine CXCL9; D018925:Chemokines / Q000032:analysis*; D020523:Chemokines, CX3C / Q000032:analysis; D019743:Chemokines, CXC / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019713:Receptors, CCR5 / Q000032:analysis; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000032:analysis; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000032:analysis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: C111954:CXC chemokine Mig; D018946:Chemokine CCL5; D054370:Chemokine CXCL9; D018925:Chemokines; D020523:Chemokines, CX3C; D019743:Chemokines, CXC; D019713:Receptors, CCR5; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine