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Cellular localization of α‐interferon in hepatitis B virus‐infected liver tissue
Author(s) -
Jilbert Allison R.,
Burrell Christopher J.,
Gowans Eric J.,
Hertzog Paul J.,
Linnane Anthony W.,
Marmion Barrie P.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.1840060524
Subject(s) - interferon , virology , hepatitis b virus , cirrhosis , hbsag , biology , virus , alpha interferon , immunology , viral replication , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , medicine , biochemistry , in vitro
Cells expressing α2‐interferon were identified by indirect immunofluorescence using both a polyclonal and a monoclonal anti‐α‐interferon antibody reagent. In hepatitis B or delta virus infection, focal clusters of α‐interferon‐positive infiltrating mononuclear cells and (to a lesser extent) fibroblasts were regularly seen in liver sections from patients who had chronic active hepatitis and cirrhosis and evidence of virus replication, but in a minority of patients with chronic persistent hepatitis B and not in nonvirally infected livers. This report provides evidence for local α‐interferon production near the site of virus replication in hepatitis B infection, identifies mononuclear cells and fibroblasts (but not hepatocytes) as the main cell types producing interferon in this infection and suggests that locally produced α‐interferon may be a natural regulator of virus replication in HBsAg‐positive chronic active hepatitis. Furthermore, serological characterization of the interferon species produced locally may predict which particular interferon species could be of the greatest therapeutic benefit in specific disease states or individual patients.