Activated T cells and soluble molecules in the portal venous blood of patients with cholestatic and hepatitis C virus-positive liver cirrhosis. Possible promotion of Fas/FasL-mediated apoptosis in the bile-duct cells and hepatocyte injury.
We investigated the immune responses of patients with cholestatic and hepatitis C virus-positive (HCV-positive) liver cirrhosis by analysing T-cell subsets and cytokine levels in the portal and peripheral veins, using flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In cholestatic liver cirrhosis, the proportion of natural-killer (NK) T cells and interleukin (IL) 6 and IL-18 levels in the portal venous blood were significantly higher than those in the peripheral venous blood. In HCV-positive liver cirrhosis, the proportions of NK T cells and Fas+ T cells and IL-6 and soluble Fas levels in the portal venous blood were significantly higher than those in the peripheral venous blood. These results suggest that in these diseases, activated T cells and soluble molecules in portal venous blood may promote Fas/FasL-mediated apoptosis of the bile-duct cells and hepatocytes, and contribute to the deterioration in liver function as an inevitable result of positive feedback.
Ariki
N
N
Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Transplant and Surgical Oncology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Okayama, Japan.
Morimoto
Y
Y
Yagi
T
T
Oyama
T
T
Cyouda
Y
Y
Sadamori
H
H
Inagaki
M
M
Urushihara
N
N
Iwagaki
H
H
Tanaka
N
N
D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism
C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D020382:Interleukin-18; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019014:fas Receptor