title: Human hepatocytes secrete soluble CD14, a process not directly influenced by HBV and HCV infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) patients have elevated plasma levels of soluble CD14 (sCD14). We examined whether human hepatocytes produce sCD14 in vivo, and whether HBV or HCV infections influence this chimeric production.
  
  
  METHODS
  uPA-SCID mice were transplanted with primary human hepatocytes and some animals were subsequently infected with HBV or HCV. Plasma from these mice was analyzed for the presence of human sCD14. The liver was examined via immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A soluble form of human CD14 could be detected in the plasma from successfully transplanted mice, while it was completely absent in non-transplanted control animals. The isoform of this human sCD14 corresponded with the most abundant isoform found in human plasma. CD14 levels in circulation were not significantly different between non-infected, HBV infected and HCV infected animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicate that human hepatocytes produce sCD14 in vivo, and that liver cells might be the major source of sCD14 in normal human plasma. In addition we demonstrate that HBV and HCV infections have no direct influence on the production of sCD14 by human hepatocytes in this chimeric model.
authors.affiliation: Center for Vaccinology, Ghent University and Hospital, Building A, 1st floor, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Meuleman
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Steyaert
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Libbrecht
authors.forename: Sibyl
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Couvent
authors.forename: Freya
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Van Houtte
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Clinckspoor
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de Hemptinne
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Roskams
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vanlandschoot
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leroux-Roels
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000637:transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007178:Inbreeding; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D016513:Mice, SCID; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D012995:Solubility; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator