BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) is usually associated with high levels of hepatic interleukin (IL)-2 and low levels of IL-4 transcripts. HCV frequently recurs after liver transplantation, and its course is accelerated in this setting. We compared in situ expression of IL-2 and IL-4 in transplanted and nontransplanted patients with HCV. METHODS: A total of 74 liver biopsy specimens were studied; 52 came from transplanted patients, 38 of whom were HCV-positive (17 mild and 21 severe cases of recurrent HCV) and 22 came from nontransplanted patients, 17 of whom were HCV-positive (7 mild and 10 severe cases of HCV). The expression of IL-2 and IL-4 mRNA and IL-4 protein was studied using the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical methods, respectively. RESULTS: IL-2 transcript levels were significantly higher in severe than in mild HCV in both liver graft recipients and nontransplanted patients. However, IL-2 levels were higher in nontransplanted than in transplanted patients. IL-4 transcripts and protein were preferentially detected in graft recipients with severe recurrent HCV. CONCLUSION: IL-4 expression is elevated in severe recurrent HCV and may play a role in the progression of hepatic lesions after liver transplantation.
BACKGROUND:Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) is usually associated with high levels of hepatic interleukin (IL)-2 and low levels of IL-4 transcripts. HCV frequently recurs after liver transplantation, and its course is accelerated in this setting. We compared in situ expression of IL-2 and IL-4 in transplanted and nontransplanted patients with HCV. METHODS: A total of 74 liver biopsy specimens were studied; 52 came from transplanted patients, 38 of whom were HCV-positive (17 mild and 21 severe cases of recurrent HCV) and 22 came from nontransplanted patients, 17 of whom were HCV-positive (7 mild and 10 severe cases of HCV). The expression of IL-2 and IL-4 mRNA and IL-4 protein was studied using the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical methods, respectively. RESULTS:IL-2 transcript levels were significantly higher in severe than in mild HCV in both liver graft recipients and nontransplanted patients. However, IL-2 levels were higher in nontransplanted than in transplanted patients. IL-4 transcripts and protein were preferentially detected in graft recipients with severe recurrent HCV. CONCLUSION:IL-4 expression is elevated in severe recurrent HCV and may play a role in the progression of hepatic lesions after liver transplantation.
Authors: Robert A DeAngelis; Maciej M Markiewski; Ioannis Kourtzelis; Stavros Rafail; Maria Syriga; Adam Sandor; Mano R Maurya; Shakti Gupta; Shankar Subramaniam; John D Lambris Journal: J Immunol Date: 2011-12-19 Impact factor: 5.422