Human hepatocytes secrete soluble CD14, a process not directly influenced by HBV and HCV infection.
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.
Meuleman
Philip
P
Center for Vaccinology, Ghent University and Hospital, Building A, 1st floor, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Steyaert
Sophia
S
Libbrecht
Louis
L
Couvent
Sibyl
S
Van Houtte
Freya
F
Clinckspoor
Filip
F
de Hemptinne
Bernard
B
Roskams
Tania
T
Vanlandschoot
Peter
P
Leroux-Roels
Geert
G
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
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator