Liver HLA-G expression is associated with multiple clinical and histopathological forms of chronic hepatitis B virus infection

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http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bsc/jvh/2011/00000018/00000002/art00004

Liver HLA-G expression is associated with multiple clinical and

histopathological forms of chronic hepatitis B virus infection

Authors: Souto, F. J. D.1; Crispim, J. C. O.2; Ferreira, S. C.2; da Silva, A. S.

M.1; Bassi, C. L.1; Soares, C. P.3; Zucoloto, S.4; Rouas-Freiss, N.5; Moreau,

P.5; elli, A. L. C.2; Donadi, E. A.2

Source: Journal of Viral Hepatitis, Volume 18, Number 2, February 2011 , pp.

102-105(4)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:Summary. 

As the mechanisms leading to the persistence of hepatitis B virus (HBV)

infection are poorly understood and as the histocompatibility leucocyte antigen

(HLA)-G is well described as a tolerogenic molecule, we evaluated HLA-G

expression in 74 specimens of HBV liver biopsies and in 10 specimens obtained

from previously healthy cadaver liver donors. HBV specimens were reviewed and

classified by the METAVIR score, and HLA-G expression was assessed by

immunohistochemistry. No HLA-G expression was observed in control hepatocytes.

In contrast, 57 (77%) of 74 HBV specimens showed soluble and membrane-bound

HLA-G expression in hepatocytes, biliary epithelial cells or both. No

associations between the intensity of HLA-G expression and patient age or

gender, HBeAg status, severity of liver fibrosis, and grade of histological

findings were observed. Although significance was not reached (P = 0.180),

patients exhibiting HLA-G expression presented a higher median HBV DNA viral

load (105 copies/mL) than those who did not express HLA-G (103.7 copies/mL).

These results indicate that HLA-G is expressed in most cases of chronic HBV

infection in all stages and may play a role in the persistency of HBV infection.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2893.2010.01286.x

Affiliations: 1: School of Medical Sciences, Federal University of Mato Grosso,

Cuiabá, Brazil 2: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine of

Ribeirão Preto, University of São o - FMRP-USP, São o, Brazil 3:

Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University

of São o State - UNESP, São o, Brazil 4: Department of Pathology,

FMRP-USP, São o, Brazil 5: Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, DSV, I2BM,

Service de Recherches en Hémato-Immunologie, Institut Universitaire

d'Hématologie, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France

Publication date: 2011-02-01