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Alpha-interferon. Its effect upon lymphocyte subpopulations and HLA-DR expression within the liver
Y K Yoo1, J S Gavaler, K N Chen
1Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania 15261.
Digestive Diseases and Sciences
|November 1, 1989
Summary
Alpha-interferon (IFN-alpha) treatment before liver transplantation increased HLA-DR expression on liver lymphocytes in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-positive patients. This suggests IFN-alpha may modulate immune responses in liver allografts.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Hepatology
- Transplantation
Background:
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a common cause of chronic liver disease and liver failure.
- Alpha-interferon (IFN-alpha) is used to treat chronic active hepatitis B and reduce allograft infection in HBV-positive liver transplant recipients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of pre-transplant IFN-alpha treatment on lymphocyte subsets and HLA-DR antigen expression in the liver tissue of HBV-positive liver transplant recipients.
Main Methods:
- Resected liver tissues from two groups of liver transplant recipients (untreated controls and IFN-alpha treated) were analyzed.
- Immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies and the avidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase technique was employed to identify lymphocyte populations and HLA-DR expression.
Main Results:
- The IFN-alpha-treated group showed a significant increase in the number of HLA-DR-positive lymphocytes in portal areas compared to the control group.
- A greater intensity of HLA-DR antigen expression was observed in both portal areas and the hepatic lobule in the IFN-alpha-treated group.
Conclusions:
- Pre-transplant administration of IFN-alpha leads to increased HLA-DR expression on liver-infiltrating lymphocytes in HBV-positive liver transplant recipients.
- These findings suggest that IFN-alpha may influence the immune microenvironment of the liver allograft, potentially impacting transplant outcomes.