title: Expression of the interferon-inducible proteins MxA and IFI16 in liver allografts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that the activation of the interferon (IFN) system pathways might link hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence in the liver allograft with acute cellular rejection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this retrospective study, allograft biopsy specimens from 28 adult patients (14 HCV+ and 14 HCV-) who had undergone their first liver transplantation were analysed. Eleven biopsy specimens showed acute cellular rejection (Banff rejection activity index score > or =3). Specimens were immunostained for two IFN-inducible proteins, MxA and IFI16, and for CD45. The predominant MxA reactivity pattern was hepatocytic, whereas IFI16 was expressed in both the hepatocellular and inflammatory compartments. Moderate to strong MxA expression in hepatocytes was associated positively with rejection score (P < 0.01), donor's age < or =45 years (P < 0.05) and aspartate aminotransferase levels >40 U/l on the day of biopsy (P < 0.05), and inversely with infiltration of portal triads by IFI16+/CD45+ cells (P < 0.005) and time to progression beyond Ishak stage 2 of recurrent hepatitis C (P < 0.01). On multivariate analysis, MxA expression in hepatocytes was independently associated with allograft rejection and donor's age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acute allograft rejection and recurrence of HCV infection in the liver allograft appear to intersect in the IFN system pathways.
authors.affiliation: DPMSC, Medical Liver Transplantation Unit, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borgogna
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Toniutto
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Smirne
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Azzimonti
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rittà
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Avellini
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fabris
authors.forename: Santo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Landolfo
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gariglio
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pirisi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000209:etiology; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064547:Myxovirus Resistance Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014019:Tissue Donors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C579071:MX1 protein, human; D064547:Myxovirus Resistance Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; C076700:IFI16 protein, human; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins