BACKGROUND: Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and lymphocyte function-associated antigen 3 are expressed markedly on hepatocytes in viral chronic hepatitis. The aim of this study was to determine whether treatment induces changes in the intrahepatic expression of adhesion molecules. METHODS: The expression patterns of these molecules were studied in liver tissue from 12 patients with chronic hepatitis B and from 14 patients with chronic hepatitis C before and after treatment with interferon alfa-2b. Immunoperoxidase staining was performed in frozen liver biopsy sections. RESULTS: Partial or complete responses to therapy were achieved in 7 (58%) of 12 patients with chronic hepatitis B and in 10 (71%) of 14 patients with chronic hepatitis C. In the first biopsy specimen, hepatocytes showed a marked expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1. In the second biopsy specimen obtained from responders, hepatocytes showed no reactivity in 4 patients with chronic hepatitis B and in 5 with chronic hepatitis C. However, its expression did not significantly change among nonresponders. A similar pattern of reactivity for lymphocyte function-associated antigen 3 was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Beneficial effect of interferon alfa-2b appears to be associated with a down-regulation of adhesion molecules on hepatocytes, suggesting that this novel immunomodulatory action of interferon could be important to induce a therapeutic response in viral chronic hepatitis.
BACKGROUND:Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and lymphocyte function-associated antigen 3 are expressed markedly on hepatocytes in viral chronic hepatitis. The aim of this study was to determine whether treatment induces changes in the intrahepatic expression of adhesion molecules. METHODS: The expression patterns of these molecules were studied in liver tissue from 12 patients with chronic hepatitis B and from 14 patients with chronic hepatitis C before and after treatment with interferon alfa-2b. Immunoperoxidase staining was performed in frozen liver biopsy sections. RESULTS: Partial or complete responses to therapy were achieved in 7 (58%) of 12 patients with chronic hepatitis B and in 10 (71%) of 14 patients with chronic hepatitis C. In the first biopsy specimen, hepatocytes showed a marked expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1. In the second biopsy specimen obtained from responders, hepatocytes showed no reactivity in 4 patients with chronic hepatitis B and in 5 with chronic hepatitis C. However, its expression did not significantly change among nonresponders. A similar pattern of reactivity for lymphocyte function-associated antigen 3 was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Beneficial effect of interferon alfa-2b appears to be associated with a down-regulation of adhesion molecules on hepatocytes, suggesting that this novel immunomodulatory action of interferon could be important to induce a therapeutic response in viral chronic hepatitis.
Authors: P L Majano; C García-Monzón; M López-Cabrera; E Lara-Pezzi; E Fernández-Ruiz; C García-Iglesias; M J Borque; R Moreno-Otero Journal: J Clin Invest Date: 1998-04-01 Impact factor: 14.808