[Study on expression of Fas/FasL and HBV antigens in liver tissue of patients with hepatitis B].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of apoptosis mediated by Fas/FasL in the liver of hepatitis B and the expression status of Fas, FasL, and HBV antigens.


METHODS
We studied the expression of Fas antigen, Fas-ligand (FasL) and hepatitis B virus(HBV) antigens(HBsAg and HBcAg) in the livers of 62 patients with hepatitis B using immunohistochemistry ABC method. Six normal liver samples were used as control.


RESULTS
Hepatocytes in normal liver had no Fas/FasL expression, but in the cases of hepatitis B, Fas was expressed mainly in the cytoplasm in 58 cases(93.5%); FasL was observed in infiltrating mononuclear cells and in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes in 37 cases (59.7%). The expressions of Fas/FasL were closely related to the liver histological inflammation degrees.


CONCLUSIONS
The apoptosis mediated by Fas/FasL may play an important role in the hepatocellular injury in hepatitis B. No correlation was found between the degrees of Fas/FasL expression and the presence of HBsAg and HBcAg in the liver.
Wang
H
H
302nd Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100039, China.
Hu
J
J
Zhu
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000096:biosynthesis*
C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019014:fas Receptor