[Immunohistochemical study of Fas ligand in liver tissue of chronic hepatitis B virus infection].
To evaluate the role of apoptosis on liver injury of chronic hepatitis B, we studied the expression of Fas ligand and HBsAg immunohistochemically. Sixty-eight liver biopsy samples from patients with type B chronic liver disease were immunostained for Fas ligand and thirty-two of which were immunostained for HBsAg.35/68(51.47%) cases showed FasL immunoreactive in liver-infiltrating mononuclear cells, and more expression of FasL were found in cytoplasm of hepatocytes. Both were closely linked to the degree of inflammation in liver(P = 0.008 and P = 0.011, respectively). But the expression of FasL had no close relationship with that of HBsAg in liver tissue (P > 0.05). These findings suggest that apoptosis caused by CTL through Fas-mediated pathway plays an important role in liver cell injury by hepatitis B virus infection. At the same time, FasL-positive hepatocytes may express cytotoxic activity and eliminate themselves by both fratricide and suicide; 'Bystander effect' can be used to account for the difference expression between FasL and HBsAg.
Hu
J
J
302 Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100039.
Zhang
L
L
Wang
H
H
D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology
C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins