title: Composition of inflammatory infiltrate and its correlation with HBV/HCV antigen expression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the composition of liver inflammatory infiltrate in biopsy material from patients chronically infected with hepatotropic viruses and to evaluate the correlation of inflammatory infiltrate with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) viral antigen expression in chronic B and C hepatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The phenotype of inflammatory cells was evaluated by the EnVision system, using a panel of monoclonal antibodies. HBV and HCV antigens were detected with the use of monoclonal anti-HBs, polyclonal anti-HBc and anti-HCV antibodies, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cellular composition of liver inflammatory infiltrate was similar in the patients with B and C hepatitis: approximately 50%-60% of cells were T helper lymphocytes. Approximately 25% were T cytotoxic lymphocytes; B lymphocytes comprised 15% of inflammatory infiltrate; other cells, including NK, totalled 10%. Expression of HLA antigens paralleled inflammatory activity. Portal lymphadenoplasia was found more often in hepatitis C (54.5%) than in hepatitis B (30.6%). Expression of HBcAg was found more often in chronic B hepatitis of moderate or severe activity. Overall inflammatory activity in HBV-infected cases did not correlate with the intensity of HBsAg expression in hepatocytes. Inflammatory infiltrates accompanied the focal expression of HCV antigens. A direct correlation between antigen expression and inflammatory reaction in situ was noted more often in hepatitis C than B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Irrespective of the etiology and activity of hepatitis, components of the inflammatory infiltrate in liver were similar. Overall inflammatory activity did not correlate with the expression of HBsAg and HCVAg; HBcAg expression, however, accompanied chronic hepatitis B of moderate and severe activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, National Institute of Public Health, National Institute of Hygiene, Warsaw 00-791, Poland.
authors.forename: Bozena
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Walewska-Zielecka
authors.forename: Kazimierz
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Madalinski
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jablonska
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Godzik
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cielecka-Kuszyk
authors.forename: Bogumila
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Litwinska
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D008875:Middle Aged; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens