title: Portal CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte correlate to intensity of interface hepatitis in chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: The pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C is still a matter of debate. CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes (TL) are typically observed within the portal and periportal spaces of affected livers, but their functional role in hepatitis C progression has not been fully elucidated.
  
  
  
  CD4+ and CD8+ TL were quantified by immunohistochemistry in portal and periportal spaces of 39 liver biopsies from patients with chronic hepatitis C. They were associated to demographic data, histological parameters, laboratory findings of patients and hepatitis C genotypes.
  
  
  
  There was high numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ TL from which the density of CD4+ T was higher than CD8+ TL in portal and periportal spaces. CD4+ and CD8+ TL were directly correlated to intensity of interface hepatitis. CD8+ TL correlated to serum enzyme levels.
  
  
  
  The high numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ TL in portal and periportal spaces and their correlation to interface hepatitis suggest that hepatitis C evolution depends on the action of intrahepatic T lymphocytes, lending support to the notion of an immune-mediated mechanism in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP. ar-viso@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Ana Teresa Rodriguez
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Viso
authors.forename: Thaís
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: de Castro Barbosa
authors.forename: Lídia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pagliari
authors.forename: Elaine Raniero
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Roosecelis Araújo
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Brasil
authors.forename: Heitor Franco de
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Maria Irma Seixas
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: Antônio Alci
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Barone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index