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Hepatic stellate cell activation in liver transplant patients with hepatitis C recurrence and in non‐transplanted patients with chronic hepatitis C
Author(s) -
Cisneros Laura,
Londoño MariaCarlota,
Blasco Carmen,
Bataller Ramón,
Miquel Rosa,
Bruguera Miquel,
Ginès Pere,
Rimola Antoni
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
liver transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.814
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1527-6473
pISSN - 1527-6465
DOI - 10.1002/lt.21178
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatic stellate cell , fibrosis , liver transplantation , gastroenterology , hepatic fibrosis , hepatitis , hepatitis c , hepatitis b , transplantation , pathology
The pathogenic mechanisms of accelerated graft fibrosis in hepatitis C recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) are not well established. The aim of the study was to assess whether a greater activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC), the major collagen‐producing cells in the liver, can occur in these patients as compared to non‐LT patients with chronic hepatitis C. We determined the amount of activated HSC by computer‐based morphometric analysis of α‐smooth muscle actin (αSMA)‐positive cells and the hepatic TGFβ 1 expression by immunohistochemistry in 46 LT patients with hepatitis C recurrence, 35 non‐LT patients with chronic hepatitis C, and 16 controls. Hepatic αSMA and TGFβ 1 expression was higher in LT patients with hepatitis C recurrence than in controls and was correlated with fibrosis stage and progression rate. No significant difference in αSMA and TGFβ 1 expression was observed between LT and non‐LT patients with hepatitis C, with the exception of a higher transforming growth factor β‐1 (TGFβ 1 ) expression in non‐LT patients in the early stages of fibrosis. LT patients receiving cyclosporine (CsA) or tacrolimus (FK) had a similar fibrosis progression rate and αSMA and TGFβ 1 expression. In conclusion, the accelerated fibrosis observed in LT patients with hepatitis C recurrence does not seem to be related to a greater amount of activated HSC and TGFβ 1 expression in the grafts of these patients as compared to non‐LT patients with chronic hepatitis C. In LT patients, the amount of activated HSC and TGFβ 1 expression correlated with fibrosis stage and progression, without any apparent influence of the type of calcineurin inhibitor administered. Liver Transpt 13:1017–1027, 2007. © 2007 AASLD.