S. Matsumoto et al., Fc gamma receptor expression on hepatic macrophages and histological activity of chronic hepatitis, LIVER, 19(5), 1999, pp. 399-405
Aims/Background: Activated liver macrophages in chronic hepatitis express a
high affinity receptor for IgG named Fc gamma RI. This study was performed
to find the difference in Fc gamma RI expression between chronic hepatitis
B (CHB) and C (CHC) with reference to histological activity. Methods: Cons
ecutive patients with CHB (20 cases) and CHC (25 cases) were enrolled in th
e study. Inflammatory activity was evaluated using the modified histologica
l activity index (HAI). Fc gamma RI-positive macrophages were quantitativel
y measured by computer assisted morphometry. Results: Total HAI score was s
ignificantly higher in CHB than in CHC. Confluent necrosis was observed in
significantly higher frequency in CHB at Stages 3-5 than in CHC. The percen
tage area of Fc gamma RI-positive macrophages was significantly higher in C
HB than in CHC. In CHB, the percentage area of Fc gamma RI-positive macroph
ages correlated with total HAI (<0.01) as well as the degree of confluent n
ecrosis (<0.01), interface hepatitis (<0.05) and portal inflammation (<0.05
). Fc gamma RI-positive macrophages accumulated mainly at the site of confl
uent necrosis. In CHC, no correlation was observed between activated macrop
hages and any histological categories. Conclusion: These results suggest th
at Fc gamma RI-positive macrophages are associated with confluent necrosis
in CHB, which is more common in CHB patients than in CHC.