Chronic hepatitis C. Analysis of host immune response by immunohistochemistry

The pathogenesis and perpetuation of hepatocellular injury in hepatitis C viral infection remains unclear. It has been proposed that a direct viropathic effect, the host immune response, or both mediate cell damage. To address this issue, the immunophenotype of the inflammatory infiltrate in the liver of 18 patients with abnormal liver function tests and serologically detectable hepatitis C virus antibodies was compared with seven control patients (three cases with hepatitis B virus infection, two with alcoholic hepatitis, and one patient each with primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune hepatitis). The immunohistochemical markers included UCHL1, L26, Ham-56, Mac-387, CD68, Leu-M1, and cathepsin B. We found that T cells represent the predominant cell type in both histopathologic patterns of hepatitis C, ie, chronic active hepatitis and chronic persistent hepatitis, but the intensity of the T-cell infiltrate displayed marked differences. B-cell infiltrates were only seen in the germinal centers of lymphoid follicles in portal tracts. Furthermore, significant numbers of CD68-positive macrophages/monocytes were seen in the more aggressive form of hepatitis C viral infection. These data suggest that the T-lymphocyte-mediated host immune response is similar in chronic active and chronic persistent hepatitis patterns of hepatitis C viral infection, but varies in its intensity. In addition, macrophages/monocytes may play a role in hepatocyte and bile duct injury in chronic hepatitis C.