Integrin up-regulation in chronic liver disease: relationship with inflammation and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C

In 94 patients with chronic hepatitis C, the pattern of integrin expression was correlated with firstly, the histological activity index, necro-inflam matory grade, and stage of fibrosis; secondly, the expression of inflammato ry markers including ICAM-1; and thirdly, the extent and intensity of lamin in deposition in the perisinusoidal matrix. Immunohistochemical results wer e evaluated according to a semi-quantitative scoring system or by image ana lysis. Increased beta1 expression was observed in 88.2% of cases. The expre ssion of alpha1 and alpha5 was increased in 55% and 58.5% of cases, respect ively. alpha6 chain was detected in 78.7%, of cases. There were no statisti cally significant differences in integrin expression level according to Kno dell's score, inflammatory grade, or stage of fibrosis. ICAM-1 expression w as higher in patients with high scores for beta1 expression, but the differ ences were not statistically significant. There were significantly more pat ients with high scores for beta1 expression among those with continuous per isinusoidal deposition of laminin. Moreover, a close statistical correlatio n was observed between alpha6 induction and perisinusoidal laminin depositi on (p < 0.001). The results suggest that integrin up-regulation in chronic hepatitis C is more closely related to the fibrotic process than to the inf lammatory lesions. This reinforces the idea that integrin induction in chro nic liver disease is part of a coordinated process involved in the progress ion of liver fibrosis. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.