Apoptosis and hepatitis C virus infection in renal transplant recipients.
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.
Delladetsima
Ioanna
I
Department of Pathology, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Psichogiou
Mina
M
Alexandrou
Paraskevi
P
Nikolopoulos
George
G
Revenas
Kostantinos
K
Hatzakis
Angelos
A
Boletis
John
J
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
D012367:RNA, Viral