Distinctive intrahepatic characteristics of pediatric and adult pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C infection

VALVA, P.; GISMONDI MI; CASCIATO P; GALOPPO, M.; LEZAMA, C.; GALDAME O; GADANO A; GALOPPO MC; MULLEN E; DE MATTEO E; MARIA VICTORIA PRECIADO

CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2014 p. 998 - 1009

1198-743X

Mechanisms leading to liver damage in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) are being discussed, but both immune system and virus are involved. The aim was to evaluate intrahepatic viral infection, apoptosis as well as portal and periportal/interface infiltrate in pediatric and adult patients to elucidate the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C. HCV infected, activated caspase-3+ and TUNEL+ hepatocytes, as well as total, CD4+, CD8+, Foxp3+ and CD20+ lymphocytes infiltrating portal and periportal/interface tracts were evaluated in 27 pediatric and 32 adult liver samples by immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescence. Infected hepatocytes number was higher in pediatric than adult samples (p=0.0078). In children, they correlated with apoptotic hepatocytes (activated caspase-3+ r=0.74, p