Relationship between expression of perforin mRNA in local infiltrated cells and hepatic damage of chronic hepatitis C

    ZHAO Yingª²Ren, WANG Yiª²Li, SI L¨¹ª²Sheng, ZHANG Shuª²Lin

    1Department of Infectious Diseases, First Hospital, 2School of Life Science and Technology, Xi¡¯an Jiaotong University, Xi¡¯an 710061, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To study the role of cellular immunity in the hepatocellular damage of chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: The expression and distribution of perforin mRNA in the local infiltrated cells were detected by in situ hybridization using a digª²labeled perforin cDNA probe in liver biopsy tissues. RESULTS: Perforin positive cells were seen in the whole intralobular areas, especially in inflammatory areas. The amount of positive cells was different, 71.9% in spotty necrosis areas, 31.0% in focal necrosis areas, 9.2% in portal areas and only 4.8% in nonª²necrotic areas. The average amount of perforin cells in the liver lobules of 18 patients had no linear correlation with the ALT level or Knodell¡¯s histology activity index (HAI). The amount of perfoin positive cells in severe chronic hepatitis was found significantly higher than that in mild and moderate chronic hepatitis. The serum levels of ALT in severe chronic hepatitis were also higher than those in mild and moderate chronic hepatitis. CONCLUSION: Perforin is the main effector in the cytotoxic activity, especially in the spotty necrosis areas, which indicates that intrahepatic immune system plays a key role in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis. ......