Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 6, 2026
10:25
"Liver-on-a-Chip" Cultures of Primary Hepatocytes and Kupffer Cells for Hepatitis B Virus Infection
Published on: February 19, 2019
12.3K
Changes in gene expression in liver tissue from patients with fulminant hepatitis E
Anshu Naik1, Amit Goel1, Vinita Agrawal1
1Anshu Naik, Amit Goel, Aditya N Sarangi, Nanda Chhavi, Rakesh Aggarwal, Department of Gastroenterology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow 226014, India.
World Journal of Gastroenterology
|July 18, 2015
Summary
Fulminant hepatitis E patients exhibit increased CD8(+) T cell infiltration and gene expression related to cytotoxic T cell pathways in the liver. This suggests a potential role for these immune cells in the disease
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Fulminant hepatitis E (FH-E) is a severe liver disease with high mortality.
- Understanding the host immune response in FH-E is crucial for developing targeted therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate host gene expression profiles in liver tissue from FH-E patients.
- To quantify immune cell populations, specifically CD4(+), CD8(+), and CD56(+) cells, within FH-E liver tissues.
- To compare these findings with those from fulminant hepatitis B (FH-B) and healthy liver controls.
Main Methods:
- Microarray analysis (Illumina Human WG-6_v3_BeadChip) of post-mortem liver tissues from FH-E, FH-B, and healthy individuals.
- Differential gene expression analysis using stringent statistical criteria (≥ 2.0-fold change, FDR < 0.05).
- Validation of key gene expression changes using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR).
- Gene Ontology and pathway analysis (DAVID server) to identify biological processes and pathways.
- Immunohistochemical staining for CD4(+), CD8(+), and CD56(+) cells, followed by cell counting.
Main Results:
- Significant differential gene expression was observed in FH-E and FH-B livers compared to controls, with substantial overlap in metabolic, hemostatic, and complement pathways.
- FH-E livers, unlike FH-B, showed activated immune response pathways, particularly those involving cytotoxic T cells.
- qRT-PCR confirmed microarray findings for selected genes in FH-E.
- Immunohistochemistry revealed a significant increase in CD8(+) T cells in the livers of both FH-E and FH-B patients compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Fulminant hepatitis E is characterized by CD8(+) T cell infiltration in the liver.
- Increased gene expression of cytotoxic T cell pathways in FH-E livers suggests a significant pathogenetic role for these immune cells.
- These findings highlight the involvement of cellular immunity in the pathogenesis of severe hepatitis E.
Related Concept Videos
01:58Cell Specific Gene Expression
17.1K
Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...
17.1K
01:22Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test
257
In clinical practice, the direct measurement of hepatic blood flow to evaluate liver function presents significant challenges due to the intricate and specialized nature of the necessary techniques. Consequently, healthcare professionals often rely on empirical estimates derived from thorough patient examinations and liver function tests to gauge liver health. Among the tools at their disposal, the Child–Pugh and MELD scoring systems stand out for their ability to categorize and assess...
257
01:26Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow
337
Chronic liver disease significantly impacts drug metabolism due to alterations in hepatic blood flow and enzyme accessibility. This disruption affects the body's pharmacokinetics—the movement and processing of drugs within the system. Key enzymes crucial for metabolizing medications become less accessible, changing how drugs are processed and utilized. Furthermore, liver disease influences the synthesis of plasma proteins, such as albumin and globulins, which play critical roles in drug...
337
01:25Hepatitis
42
Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver most commonly caused by hepatotropic viruses (A–E), though non-infectious causes such as alcohol and drugs also exist.Hepatitis AHepatitis A virus (HAV) is a non-enveloped RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family. It is primarily transmitted via the fecal-oral route, typically through ingestion of contaminated food or water. After ingestion, HAV enters the bloodstream through the oropharynx or intestinal epithelium and reaches the liver.
42
01:24Liver Regeneration
5.0K
The liver is an important organ in vertebrates that plays an essential role in metabolism. It is also responsible for storing and redistributing nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins in the body. Additionally, the liver releases bile salts which are critical for digesting food and eliminating toxic metabolites from the body.
Cells of Liver
The liver comprises four major types of cells— hepatocytes, stellate, Kupffer, and sinusoidal endothelial cells. The hepatocytes are...
Cells of Liver
The liver comprises four major types of cells— hepatocytes, stellate, Kupffer, and sinusoidal endothelial cells. The hepatocytes are...
5.0K
01:26Diseases of the Liver and Gallbladder
2.3K
Liver and gallbladder diseases are a significant health concern, with prominent conditions including cirrhosis, hepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and gallstones. Jaundice is a common manifestation of liver and biliary disease.
Cirrhosis is characterized by the scarring of hepatic lobules in the liver, which are replaced by fibrous tissue, affecting the liver's normal functioning. NAFLD, on the other hand, is caused by an excessive build-up of fat in the liver, not...
Cirrhosis is characterized by the scarring of hepatic lobules in the liver, which are replaced by fibrous tissue, affecting the liver's normal functioning. NAFLD, on the other hand, is caused by an excessive build-up of fat in the liver, not...
2.3K