Monokine gene expression in normal human liver: selective involvement of the portal compartment

Monokines play a major role in the regulation of hepatocyte functions. To document a possible in situ production of these mediators under physiological conditions, expression of IL-1 beta and of IL-6 genes was analyzed by in situ hybridization in four histologically normal human livers. We detected cells containing IL-1 beta mRNA or IL-6 mRNA in all cases. Cells expressing either the IL-1 beta gene or the IL-6 gene were found with equal frequency and were similarly distributed. Although present in all liver compartments, they were selectively enriched in portal areas, in which they were detected both in endothelial positions and in perivascular connective tissues. Few positive cells were observed in hepatic lobules, most of them being located in the walls of centrolobular veins, in an endothelial position. Subcapsular cells were also shown to express monokine genes. The location of positive cells and their pattern of labelling suggested that macrophages, fibroblasts and endothelial cells were the main cell populations expressing monokine genes. In contrast, Kupffer cells, biliary epithelial cells and hepatocytes did not express monokine genes. No marker of immune activation other than monokine gene expression was detected in these histologically normal livers. The expression of the IL-1 beta gene and of the IL-6 gene may be induced by gut-derived LPS, and could play a role in the modulation of hepatocyte function in normal liver.