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Updated: May 13, 2026

Immunofluorescence to Monitor the Cellular Uptake of Human Lactoferrin and its Associated Antiviral Activity Against the Hepatitis C Virus
Published on: October 1, 2015
Down-regulation of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 on hepatocytes in viral chronic hepatitis treated with
C García-Monzón1, L García-Buey, A García-Sánchez
1Liver Unit, Hospital de la Princesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain.
Background:
Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and lymphocyte function-associated antigen 3 are expressed markedly on hepatocytes in viral chronic hepatitis. The aim of this study was to determine whether treatment induces changes in the intrahepatic expression of adhesion molecules.
Methods:
The expression patterns of these molecules were studied in liver tissue from 12 patients with chronic hepatitis B and from 14 patients with chronic hepatitis C before and after treatment with interferon alfa-2b. Immunoperoxidase staining was performed in frozen liver biopsy sections.
Results:
Partial or complete responses to therapy were achieved in 7 (58%) of 12 patients with chronic hepatitis B and in 10 (71%) of 14 patients with chronic hepatitis C. In the first biopsy specimen, hepatocytes showed a marked expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1. In the second biopsy specimen obtained from responders, hepatocytes showed no reactivity in 4 patients with chronic hepatitis B and in 5 with chronic hepatitis C. However, its expression did not significantly change among nonresponders. A similar pattern of reactivity for lymphocyte function-associated antigen 3 was observed.
Conclusions:
Beneficial effect of interferon alfa-2b appears to be associated with a down-regulation of adhesion molecules on hepatocytes, suggesting that this novel immunomodulatory action of interferon could be important to induce a therapeutic response in viral chronic hepatitis.
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