[Correlation between hepatic immunological markers and virus genotype in patients with chronic hepatitis C].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the hepatic expression of immunological markers relevant to a cytotoxic response in relation to viral genotype.


METHODS
The frozen liver biopsies were obtained from 28 HF genotyped patients and made the sections stained. The morphometry was used to analyze the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I), CD8, beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2) -mG), HFE and CD68 in the stained sections. Biopsy data of response to therapy with interferon were available in 18 cases.


RESULTS
CD8+ was usually clustered together and localized in portal tracts and sinusoids, and seen to interact with MHC I positive lining cells. MHC-I and beta(2) -mG were expressed mainly in endothelial and Kupffer cells. HFE was expressed in most round and dendritic CD68+ cells. Patients with virus genotype 3a had higher hepatic MHC-I and HFE expression, and a better sustained response to interferon (IFN) therapy than patients without.


CONCLUSIONS
The MHC-I expression in the liver of patient with chronic hepatitis C virus infection seems to relate to viral-genotype. The hepatic MHC-I and HFE expression are higher in patients with virus genotype 3a than that in patients with non-3a genotype.
Yu
Wen-hui
WH
Department of Experiment Diagnosis, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518033, P. R. China. whyuchina@hotmail.com
Li
Wei-xiong
WX
Zhou
Da-qiao
DQ
He
Jing-song
JS
Dong
Jie-ming
JM
Song
Zhi-xing
ZX
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015153:Blotting, Western; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D000071020:Hemochromatosis Protein; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D000071020:Hemochromatosis Protein; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D007372:Interferons; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule; C103673:HFE protein, human