Analysis of CD28 and bcl-2 expression on peripheral blood and liver-infiltrating mononuclear cells in patients with autoimmune hepatitis.
Because the underlying mechanism of hepatocellular damages in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) still remains unclear, analysis of CD28 and bcl-2 molecules, which are critical for T cell activation and survival, was performed in patients with AIH. The number of CD28(+)CD4(+) peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in corticosteroid (CS)-treated patients was comparable to normal control individuals but decreased in untreated AIH patients. In contrast, the number of CD28(+)CD8(+) PBMC was decreased in both CS-treated and untreated AIH patients. Analysis of liver-infiltrating mononuclear cells (LIMC) showed that the number of CD28(+)CD4(+) and CD28(-)CD8(+) LIMC were positively correlated with the histology activity index score. Bcl-2(+)CD4(+) LIMC were observed in the portal area of the liver and the numbers fluctuated with disease activity during the time course after CS administration. By contrast, CD8(+) LIMC were shown not to express bcl-2. Taken collectively, these results suggest that bcl-2(+)CD28(+)CD4(+) and bcl-2(-)CD28(-)CD8(+) cells may play critical and distinct roles in hepatocellular damage in AIH.
Kurokohchi
Kazutaka
K
Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Miki-cho, Kagawa, Japan.
Arima
Keiji
K
Masaki
Tsutomu
T
Deguchi
Akiihiro
A
Nakai
Seiji
S
Morishita
Asahiro
A
Yoneyama
Hirohito
H
Ohgi
Tomohiro
T
Ono
Masahiro
M
Yoshitake
Akira
A
Maeta
Tsuyoshi
T
Mori
Yoshihiro
Y
Kohi
Fumikazu
F
Nishioka
Mikio
M
Kuriyama
Shigeki
S
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001773:Blood Cells; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2