Activation of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha system in the liver in chronic hepatitis B virus infection

To determine the status of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) system in the liver in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, hepatic expression of TNF alpha, its two receptors (TNFR-A, TNFR-B), HLA class I antigens (HLA-I), and HBV core antigen (HBcAg) were studied by immunohistochemistry in 24 patients with chronic HBV infection, TNF alpha was detected exclusively in the infiltrating mononuclear cells (MNC) in 19 of 24 patients. The expression of TNF alpha in infiltrating <MNC correlated with serum markers of HBV replication and liver histology. TNFR were detected in hepatocytes, sinusoidal cells, and infiltrating MNC. The expression of TNFR correlated with liver histology (p < 0.01) but had no bearing on viral replication. There was a parallel expression of TNF alpha and TNFR (p < 0.01). Hepatocytic expression of HLA-I was increased, and this was related to liver histology but not with TNF(alpha nor TNFR. These data indicate that the TNF alpha system is activated in the liver in chronic HBV infection.