To assess the effects of constitutive hepatitis C virus (HCV) gene expression on liver, transgenic mice carrying the entire HCV open reading frame inserted in the α1 antitrypsin (A1AT) gene were generated. Expression of A1AT/HCV mRNA was found to be mainly limited to perivascular areas of the liver as indicated by in situ hybridization analysis. HCV core protein was detected in Western blots of liver extracts, whereas the expression of E2, NS3 and NS5 proteins was revealed by immunostaining of liver samples using HCV-specific antisera. Histological analysis of HCV transgenic mice showed that these animals develop extensive steatosis, but very little necrosis of liver tissue. Moreover, a consistent T cell infiltrate and a slight hepatocyte proliferation were observed. Phenotypic analysis of cells infiltrating the liver indicated that recruitment and/or expansion of residing CD8+, NK, NKT and γδ T cells occurred in transgenic animals. Among these cells, a large fraction of CD8+ T lymphocytes released mainly IL-10 and, to a lesser extent, IFN-γ upon mitogenic stimulation in vitro. Furthermore, both intrahepatic lymphocytes and splenocytes did not produce cytokines in response to HCV antigens. Thus, these data indicate that constitutive expression of HCV proteins may be responsible for intrahepatic lymphocyte recruitment in absence of viral antigen recognition. This response is likely to be driven by virus-induced cellular factors and may play a significant role in the immunopathology of chronic HCV infection and liver disease. © 2004 SGM.

Steatosis and intrahepatic lymphocyte recruitment in hepatitis C virus transgenic mice / T., Alonzi; C., Agrati; B., Costabile; Cicchini, Carla; Amicone, Laura; C., Cavallari; Della Rocca, Carlo; A., Folgori; C., Fipaldini; F., Poccia; N., La Monica; Tripodi, Marco. - In: JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY. - ISSN 0022-1317. - 85:6(2004), pp. 1509-1520. [10.1099/vir.0.19724-0]

Steatosis and intrahepatic lymphocyte recruitment in hepatitis C virus transgenic mice

CICCHINI, Carla;AMICONE, Laura;DELLA ROCCA, Carlo;TRIPODI, Marco
2004

Abstract

To assess the effects of constitutive hepatitis C virus (HCV) gene expression on liver, transgenic mice carrying the entire HCV open reading frame inserted in the α1 antitrypsin (A1AT) gene were generated. Expression of A1AT/HCV mRNA was found to be mainly limited to perivascular areas of the liver as indicated by in situ hybridization analysis. HCV core protein was detected in Western blots of liver extracts, whereas the expression of E2, NS3 and NS5 proteins was revealed by immunostaining of liver samples using HCV-specific antisera. Histological analysis of HCV transgenic mice showed that these animals develop extensive steatosis, but very little necrosis of liver tissue. Moreover, a consistent T cell infiltrate and a slight hepatocyte proliferation were observed. Phenotypic analysis of cells infiltrating the liver indicated that recruitment and/or expansion of residing CD8+, NK, NKT and γδ T cells occurred in transgenic animals. Among these cells, a large fraction of CD8+ T lymphocytes released mainly IL-10 and, to a lesser extent, IFN-γ upon mitogenic stimulation in vitro. Furthermore, both intrahepatic lymphocytes and splenocytes did not produce cytokines in response to HCV antigens. Thus, these data indicate that constitutive expression of HCV proteins may be responsible for intrahepatic lymphocyte recruitment in absence of viral antigen recognition. This response is likely to be driven by virus-induced cellular factors and may play a significant role in the immunopathology of chronic HCV infection and liver disease. © 2004 SGM.
2004
Transgenic mice; steatosis; lymphocytes
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Steatosis and intrahepatic lymphocyte recruitment in hepatitis C virus transgenic mice / T., Alonzi; C., Agrati; B., Costabile; Cicchini, Carla; Amicone, Laura; C., Cavallari; Della Rocca, Carlo; A., Folgori; C., Fipaldini; F., Poccia; N., La Monica; Tripodi, Marco. - In: JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY. - ISSN 0022-1317. - 85:6(2004), pp. 1509-1520. [10.1099/vir.0.19724-0]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/235495
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