Περίληψη:
Objective: To investigate whether the expression of cytokeratin (CK) 8
and 18 is altered in chronic active viral hepatitis, autoimmune
hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Study Design: Cytologic imprint smears were obtained from 53 liver core
biopsy specimens and were studied immunocytochemically for the
expression of CK8 and 18.
Results: CK8-positive expression was observed in 45.5% of chronic
active hepatitis B (CH-B), 20% of chronic active hepatitis C (CH-C),
90% of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and 83.3% of hepatocellular
carcinoma (HCC) cases. CK18-positive expression was observed in 36.4%
of CH-B, 26.7% of CH-C, 70% of AIH and 83.3% of HCC cases. A
statistically significant association was found between CK8- and
CK18-positive expression and the diagnosis of AIH and HCC. In contrast,
CH-C and CH-B were associated with negative CK8 and CK18 expression. In
addition, a negative [CK8(-)/CK18(-)] or unbalanced [CK8(-)/CK18(+),
CK8(+)/CK18(-)] expression pattern was found in 100.0% and 81.18% of
CH-C and CH-B cases, respectively, while the relative percentages of AIH
and HCC cases were significantly lower (30.0% and 16.7%, respectively)
(p < 0.0001).
Conclusion: Our results indicate that CK8 and 18 expression is
maintained in AIH and HCC and altered in CH-B and CH-C. The pathogenetic
mechanism of this alteration remains to be clarified.
Συγγραφείς:
Athanassiadou, Pauline
Psyhoyiou, Helen
Grapsa, Dimitra and
Gonidi, Maria
Ketikoglou, Ioannis
Patsouris, Efstratios
