Open AccessB-cell clonality in the liver of hepatitis C virus-infected patients
Author(s) -
He-Bin Fan,
Yi Zhu,
An-Shen Chen,
Mu-Xiu Zhou,
Fu-ming Yan,
Xiang Ma,
Hao Zhou
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
world journal of gastroenterology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.427
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 2219-2840
pISSN - 1007-9327
DOI - 10.3748/wjg.15.1636
Subject(s) - pathology , liver biopsy , hepatitis c virus , monoclonal , hepatitis b virus , b cell , medicine , biopsy , hepatitis b , lymphoma , cryoglobulinemia , hepatitis c , virus , biology , immunology , monoclonal antibody , antibody
The association of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with type II mixed cryoglobulinemia is well established, but the role of HCV in B-cell lymphoma remains controversial. In patients with HCV infection, B-cell clonal expansions have been detected in peripheral blood and bone marrow, and a high prevalence of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas has been documented. Liver biopsies in chronic HCV infection frequently show portal lymphoid infiltrates with features of B follicles, whose clonality has not yet been investigated. The object of this study was to determine the frequency of liver-infiltrating monoclonal B-cells in 40 patients with HCV infection.