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Research Paper
Analysis of the Mononuclear Inflammatory Cell Infiltrate in the Cirrhotic, Dysplastic Nodules and Hepatocellular Carcinomas in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Infection
Mahmoud R. Hussein and Rabab A. Ahmed
volume 4 | issue 10
October 2005Pages: 1075-1078
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Background: Hepatocarcinogenesis is a multistep process entailing the transitions from normal liver_ chronic hepatitis and cirrhotic nodules (CH/CNs) _ dysplastic nodules (DNs) _hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). We hypothesized that hepatocarcinogeneis on top of chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) is associated with alterations in the mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltrate (MICs) in response to altered antigenicity of the damaged hepatocytes. Materials and methods: A total of 19 hepatic resection specimens entailing the entire continuum of the lesional steps of the hepatocarcinogenesis (on top of CH-C) were evaluated for MICs using immunohistological methods and mouse monoclonal antibodies (CD3, CD20, CD68 and T-cell intracellular associated antigen, TIA-1). Results: HCCs were: 1) overrepresented in elderly males (56.1 ± 2.0 years, with male to female ratio of 1.8:1), and 2) more common in the right than in left lobe (1.1:1).The transitions from normal liver to the subsequent lesional steps (CH-C/CNs, DNs and HCCs) was associated with statistically significantly (p<0.000) increased density of: tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (9.5 ± 0.2 vs. 87.1±1.3 vs. 73.6±1.6 vs.72.1±3.5), CD20+ B cells (4.4±0.2 vs.35.0±2.9 vs.11.3±1.8 vs.11.3±1.6), CD68+macrophages (1.4±0.1 vs.9.5±1.8 vs.22.3±1.6 vs.18.8±2.0), CD3+cells (5.4±0.1 vs.87.0±1.3 vs.62.2±1.3 vs.61.0±3.4) and TIA-1+ cytototoxic T cells (0.4±0.1 vs.11.6±2.0 vs.24.9±1.2 vs.30.5±1.6).Conclusions: Increased MICs during hepatocarcinogeneis (on top of CH-C) may reflect change in the antigenicity of the damaged hepatocytes. Although both B (humoral response) and T (cell mediated immunity) lymphocytes were involved, the later were the most numerous immunocytes. A considerable fraction of these T cells was TIA-1+ cells suggesting their cytotoxic potential.
We now provide open access to journal articles published online for one year or more. This article may be downloaded at the following link:
Download PDFIf the document does not open, please right-click on the link (control-click on a Macintosh) and select the option to save the file to disk.