[HLA-DR expression on hepatic cells in hepatitis B].

HLA-DR immunohistochemistry of 110 liver biopsies including 85 hepatitis (in 7 of them immunoelectron microscopy was done), 15 other liver diseases and 10 normal livers were studied. In the hepatitis group, Kupffer cells, sinusoidal walls, inflammatory cells and necrotic areas were strongly positive for HLA-DR; whereas in other liver diseases, they were only weakly positive. In hepatitis, CAH showed the strongest staining and a "reticular pattern". Expression of HLA-DR on hepatocyte membrane was only found in a few hepatocytes. In 5 cases of double labelling, no significant relation between HLA-DR and HBcAg was found. Immune EM identified both membrane and cytoplasm of Kupffer cells to be HLA-DR positive. Hepatocytes in focal necrosis and submassive necrosis were positive, especially in the endoplasmic reticulum. Between some hepatocytes, consecutive positive lines were found indicating that the membrane of hepatocyte could express HLA-DR.