Role of chemokines in the pathogenesis of liver diseases.

OBJECTIVE

while chemokines appear to be important in certain inflammatory disorders, little is known about the role of these proteins in chronic hepatitis C.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

firstly, an extensive review of the expression pattern of chemokines in liver diseases with special emphasis in hepatitis C has been performed. Then, expression of selected CXC and CC chemokines and their receptors was assessed by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry in a number of patients with chronic hepatitis C.

RESULTS

evidence that certain CXC and CC chemokines are markedly expressed in chronic hepatitis C has been recently reported. In agreement with this, we have shown that the majority of liver-derived T lymphocytes from patients with chronic hepatitis C expressed CXCR3 and CCR5 chemokine receptors. In addition, an intense intrahepatic expression of their respective ligands, Mig and RANTES, was detected in the same patients studied. Furthermore, an association between the intrahepatic chemokine expression level and the inflammatory activity of chronic hepatitis C was found.

CONCLUSIONS

all of these findings strongly suggest that intra hepatic chemokine signaling could play a key role regulating significant pathological events during chronic hepatitis C, opening new avenues for therapeutic interventions based on chemokines activities.