TY - JOUR
T1 - Activated T cells and soluble molecules in the portal venous blood of patients with cholestatic and hepatitis C virus-positive liver cirrhosis. Possible promotion of Fas/FasL-mediated apoptosis in the bile-duct cells and hepatocyte injury
AU - Ariki, N.
AU - Morimoto, Y.
AU - Yagi, T.
AU - Oyama, T.
AU - Cyouda, Y.
AU - Sadamori, H.
AU - Inagaki, M.
AU - Urushihara, N.
AU - Iwagaki, H.
AU - Tanaka, N.
PY - 2003
Y1 - 2003
N2 - We investigated the immune responses of patients with cholestatic and hepatitis C virus-positive (HCV-positive) liver cirrhosis by analysing T-cell subsets and cytokine levels in the portal and peripheral veins, using flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In cholestatic liver cirrhosis, the proportion of natural-killer (NK) T cells and interleukin (IL) 6 and IL-18 levels in the portal venous blood were significantly higher than those in the peripheral venous blood. In HCV-positive liver cirrhosis, the proportions of NK T cells and Fas+ T cells and IL-6 and soluble Fas levels in the portal venous blood were significantly higher than those in the peripheral venous blood. These results suggest that in these diseases, activated T cells and soluble molecules in portal venous blood may promote Fas/FasL-mediated apoptosis of the bile-duct cells and hepatocytes, and contribute to the deterioration in liver function as an inevitable result of positive feedback.
AB - We investigated the immune responses of patients with cholestatic and hepatitis C virus-positive (HCV-positive) liver cirrhosis by analysing T-cell subsets and cytokine levels in the portal and peripheral veins, using flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In cholestatic liver cirrhosis, the proportion of natural-killer (NK) T cells and interleukin (IL) 6 and IL-18 levels in the portal venous blood were significantly higher than those in the peripheral venous blood. In HCV-positive liver cirrhosis, the proportions of NK T cells and Fas+ T cells and IL-6 and soluble Fas levels in the portal venous blood were significantly higher than those in the peripheral venous blood. These results suggest that in these diseases, activated T cells and soluble molecules in portal venous blood may promote Fas/FasL-mediated apoptosis of the bile-duct cells and hepatocytes, and contribute to the deterioration in liver function as an inevitable result of positive feedback.
KW - Apoptosis
KW - Cholestatic liver cirrhosis
KW - Fas
KW - Fas-ligand
KW - HCV-positive liver cirrhosis
KW - Interleukin 18
KW - Interleukin 6
KW - Natural-killer T cells
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U2 - 10.1177/147323000303100302
DO - 10.1177/147323000303100302
M3 - Article
C2 - 12870369
AN - SCOPUS:10744226853
VL - 31
SP - 170
EP - 180
JO - Journal of International Medical Research
JF - Journal of International Medical Research
SN - 0300-0605
IS - 3
ER -