title: Post-transplant reactivation of hepatitis C virus: lymphocyte infiltration and the expression of adhesion molecules and their ligands in liver allografts.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence after liver transplantation has been associated with chronic rejection. Biopsies from 10 patients with post-transplant HCV were examined for expression of adhesion molecules ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and ELAM-1, number of lymphocytes positive for their ligands LFA-1, VLA-4, and SLeX, and activation markers MHC class II antigens and IL2-R by immunohistochemistry. The phenotypes of the graft-infiltrating lymphocytes were determined. Results were compared to those for patients with normal graft function or rejection. Five recipients with HCV reactivation and one with de novo HCV had a biopsy available showing induction of ICAM-1 in sinusoidal endothelium (p<0.05) and hepatocytes (p<0.01), and Class II antigens in hepatocytes (p<0.01), compared to normal controls. Lymphocytes in the graft infiltrate expressed LFA-1, VLA-4, and Class II antigens, but IL2-R was not significantly expressed. CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ cells were observed. In our study, HCV recurrence was not associated with acute or chronic rejection, and the inflammation was due to the viral infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Transplantation and Liver Surgery Unit, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Katri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lipson
authors.forename: Maija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lappalainen
authors.forename: Krister
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Höckerstedt
authors.forename: Irmeli
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lautenschlager
mesh_terms: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D039041:Integrin alpha4beta1 / Q000032:analysis; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / Q000032:analysis; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000032:analysis; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D012008:Recurrence; D000080506:Sialyl Lewis X Antigen; D015854:Up-Regulation; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D019040:E-Selectin; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D039041:Integrin alpha4beta1; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D000080506:Sialyl Lewis X Antigen; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1