title: Apoptosis and hepatitis C virus infection in renal transplant recipients.
abstract: Hepatocellular injury in renal transplant recipients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains unclear. The suppressed immune response, in combination with increased viremia levels, provides a unique setting for the study of a potential HCV-induced apoptotic process. Liver biopsy specimens from 59 HCV-infected renal transplant recipients were examined histologically. DNA fragmentation was detected by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-nick end labeling assay, and the CD8 T-cell count was assessed immunohistochemically.A low apoptotic index (0-2.5) was observed in 31 cases, a moderate index (2.6-5) in 16, and a high index (>5) in 12. Apoptotic cell death correlated significantly with viremia because it was demonstrated by higher HCV-RNA levels in cases with a high number of apoptotic cells (odds ratio, 2.96; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-8.5; P = .04). No correlation was found between the apoptotic index and hepatitis necroinflammatory activity, CD8 cell count, fibrosis stage, immunosuppressive therapy, or genotype. In HCV-infected renal transplant recipients, apoptotic cell death seems to be associated with high viral load, thus providing indications of viral interference in the pathogenetic process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioanna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Delladetsima
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Psichogiou
authors.forename: Paraskevi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alexandrou
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nikolopoulos
authors.forename: Kostantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Revenas
authors.forename: Angelos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hatzakis
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boletis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D014766:Viremia
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral