Expression of co-stimulatory molecules by kupffer cells in... : Hepatology (original) (raw)

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Expression of co-stimulatory molecules by kupffer cells in chronic hepatitis of hepatitis C virus etiology

Burgio, Vito L. M.D.*, 1, 2; Ballardini, Giorgio4; Artini, Marco1, 2; Caratozzolo, Marcello3; Bianchi, Francesco B.4; Levrero, Massimo1, 5

1Fondazione Andrea Cesalpino, Roma, Italy

2Istituto di Clinica Medica 1, Roma, Italy

3Istituto di IV Clinica ChirurgicaUniversità “La Sapienza”, Roma, Italy

4Clinica Medica II, Policlinico S. Orsola, Università di Bologna, Italy

5Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Università di Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy

*Address reprint requests to: Istituto di Clinica Medica 1, Università “La Sapienza”, Policlinico Umberto I, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy. Fax: 39-6-494-0594.

Received July 31, 1997; Accepted February 17, 1998; previously published online December 30, 2003

Abstract

In this paper we show that in viral hepatitis most Kupffer cells (KCs) are activated and express high levels of CD80, CD40, and class-II MHC molecules, thus acquiring the phenotype of professional antigen presenting cells (APCs). Activated KCs display a close contact with CD4+ T lymphocytes and form KCs-T lymphocyte clusters. Clusters are found within the sinusoids, across the sinusoid wall, and within the liver parenchima as well, as a consequence of transendothelial migration (TEM). The positivity of activated KCs for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antigens, which likely reflects phagocytosis of infected hepatocytes, suggests that KCs-T cell clusters represent the morphological expression of the functional interaction between KCs acting as professional APCs and antigen-experienced CD4+ T lymphocytes within the liver. These phenotypic and morphological changes are distinct features of livers in chronic hepatitis patients compared with controls.