Liver-infiltrating mononuclear cells in children with type 1 autoimmune hepatitis

N. FERREYRA SOLARI; MB DE BIASIO; N PERIOLO; MT G. DE DÁVILA; M CIOCCA; C GALOPPO ; MC CAÑERO-VELASCO ; H FAINBOIM ; L FAINBOIM ; AC CHERÑAVSKY

Cordoba

Congreso; VII Latin American Congress of Immunology.; 2005

VII Latin American Congress of Immunology.

Aims: To investigate infiltrating cells in the liver of children with type 1 autoimmune hepatitis (AH-1). Methods: liver biopsies from 24 AH-1 children and adults, 5 hepatitis C virus-related chronic hepatitis (HCV) patients and 10 control liver specimens (CL) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Results: Two cell distribution patterns were detected in AH-1:1-CD4+/CD20+ cells (central areas of portal tracts, portal distribution) and 2-CD8+ cells (periphery of portal spaces, periportal distribution). CD56, CD57, Fas-L; Bak positive cell subsets did not show defined distribution patterns. HCV and CL did not show portal or periportal patterns. In AH-1 and CL, CD56 and CD57 were scattered through the liver parenchyma; in HCV biopsies, CD56+ cells were increased at portal/periportal areas. AH-1 and HCV patients showed a uniform distribution of Fas-L and Bak at portal/periportal areas. Parenchymatic Bak staining was also detected. Conclusions: This first immunohistochemical characterization of mononuclear infiltrates in AH-1children showed outstanding similarities with that previously reported in adults. Our study might allow reclassification of undetermined cases described as cryptogenic hepatitis.