Incidence of hepatotropic viruses in biliary atresia.
Biliary atresia (BA) is the most frequent indication for paediatric liver transplantation. We tested the hypothesis of a viral aetiology of this disease by screening liver samples of a large number of BA patients for the common human hepatotropic viruses. Moreover, we correlated our findings to the expression of Mx protein, which has been shown to be significantly up-regulated during viral infections. Seventy-four liver biopsies (taken during Kasai portoenterostomy) were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for DNA viruses (herpes simplex virus [HSV], Epstein-Barr virus [EBV], varicella zoster virus [VZV], cytomegalovirus [CMV], adenovirus, parvovirus B19 and polyoma BK) and RNA viruses (enteroviruses, rotavirus and reovirus 3). Mx protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Virus DNA/RNA was found in less than half of the biopsies (8/74 CMV, 1/74 adenovirus; 21/64 reovirus, 1/64 enterovirus). A limited number presented with double infection. Patients that had detectable viral RNA/DNA in their liver biopsies were significantly older than virus-free patients (P = 0.037). The majority (54/59) of the liver biopsies showed expression of Mx proteins in hepatocytes, bile ducts and epithelium. Our data suggest that the known hepatotropic viruses do not play a major role in the aetiology and progression of BA. Their incidence appears to be, rather, a secondary phenomenon. Nonetheless, the inflammatory response in the livers of BA patients mimics that observed during viral infections.
Department of Pediatric Kidney and Liver Diseases and Metabolic Disorders, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Stefan
S
Rauschenfels
Miriam
M
Krassmann
Ahmed N
AN
Al-Masri
Willem
W
Verhagen
Johannes
J
Leonhardt
Joachim F
JF
Kuebler
Claus
C
Petersen
D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015897:Comorbidity; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004770:Enterovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006518:Hepatitis Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D012089:Mammalian orthoreovirus 3 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D064547:Myxovirus Resistance Proteins; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011120:Polyomavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000302:isolation & purification
D015415:Biomarkers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D064547:Myxovirus Resistance Proteins; D012367:RNA, Viral; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins