title: High expression of eosinophil chemoattractant ecalectin/galectin-9 in drug-induced liver injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ecalectin/galectin-9 (ECL/GL9) is an eosinophil chemoattractant isolated from T lymphocytes. Drug-induced liver injury (DILI), often caused by an allergic mechanism, is occasionally accompanied by eosinophilic infiltration. In this study, we intended to determine whether DILI can induce augmentation of ECL/GL9 expression. Further, we investigated whether this augmentation is associated with tissue eosinophilia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined the expression of ECL/GL9 in biopsy specimens of DILI using the immunohistochemical technique. A rabbit anti-ECL/GL9 antibody was produced by immunizing rabbits with synthetic peptide corresponding to a molecular epitope of ECL/GL9. Thereafter, immunohistochemical staining with the use of this antibody was performed on 16 DILI needle biopsy specimens, and on biopsy specimens of chronic viral hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and normal liver tissues as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all cases of DILI specimens, but not in control liver specimens, a clear positive staining for ECL/GL9 was observed. Such positive staining was noted on Kupffer cells, fibroblasts, and histiocytes, but not on lymphocytes or hepatocytes. However, the intensity of immunolabeling did not correlate with the extent of eosinophile leukocyte infiltration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High expression of ECL/GL9 is suggested to be a specific finding of DILI. However, tissue eosinophilia in DILI cannot be explained by the augmentation of ECL/GL9 expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. ytakaha-tky@umin.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yoshihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukusato
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akiyama
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tamatani
authors.forename: Junji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shiga
authors.forename: Shigeo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mori
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D037161:Galectins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D037161:Galectins; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins