Expression of the mucosal vascular addressin MAdCAM-1, in inflammatory liver disease

Aims/Background: The integrin alpha 4 beta 7 and mucosal addressin cell adh esion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1) are involved in normal recirculation of lymphoc ytes between the blood and the tissues of the gastrointestinal tract. In th is study we have examined the expression of MAdCAM-1 in human liver. Method s. MAdCAM-1 expression was determined in archival human liver tissues by im munohistochemistry. Results: While MAdCAM-1 was not detected in normal feta l or adult human liver, expression was observed in association with portal tract inflammation in a variety of liver diseases. Detailed analysis of liv er biopsies from patients with hepatitis C showed a positive correlation be tween the portal/periportal component of the histological activity index (H AI) grade and the presence or absence of MAdCAM-1 expression. Conclusion: M AdCAM-1 expression may be important in the recruitment of lymphocytes to th e liver during inflammation.