Conclusion: GS 1101 Our analysis demonstrates that IL-8 can alter recognition of HSC by CD56brightCD1 6negativeNK cells, which may result from altered expression of NK cell receptor ligands and/or MHC molecules after IL-8 stimulation. Thus, adaptive Tregs in chronic hepatitis C, which produce abundant IL-8, can contribute to enhanced fibrogenesis also by inhibiting the antifibrotic interactions between NK cells and HSC. Disclosures: The following people have nothing to disclose: Bettina Langhans, Abdel Wahed Alwan, Eva Maria Althausen, Benjamin Krämer, Andreas Glässner, Jacob Nattermann, Christian P. Strassburg,
Ulrich Spengler BACKGROUND: Recently, the hepatic apelinergic system has been linked to the fibrogenic processes in cirrhotic animals and humans. However, no reports have documented the expression of Apelin in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Moreover, the hepatic expression of Apelin in HCV patients has not been studied. AIM: To analyse the expression of Apelin in the liver of HCV patients during different stages of the disease. Material & Methods: In HCV patients (n=85), immunolocalization of Apelin was compared, semi-quantitatively, in different stages of chronic hepatitis [CH] (n=43), cirrhosis (n=18), dysplastic nodules with surrounding cirrhosis (n=6) and HCC with surrounding cirrhosis (n
= 18). Normal liver (n=5) was used as control. RESULTS: In normal liver Apelin was almost undetectable. In chronic liver disease, it was weakly identified mainly in the portal areas. This expression was stage-dependent with the progression of cirrhosis. In cirrhosis, Apelin was identified mainly across the fibrous septa. Apelin over-expression in the hepato-cytes was selleck products significantly induced in the course of hepatic car-cinogenesis. It was expressed in the dysplastic hepatocytes, malignant hepatocytes and regenerating hepatocytes in the adjacent cirrhotic liver. Apelin expression significantly increased with tumour grade. CONCLUSION: In HCV patients with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis, Apelin was
not expressed in the liver parenchyma. selleck chemical In contrast, in dysplasia and carcinoma it was expressed in the hepatocytes. Thus, Aplein role varies in chronic hepatitis and carcinogenesis. In chronic hepatitis, it is probably a mediator in the fibrogenic process. Binding of Apelin to Apelin receptor in hepatocytes could be involved in liver cell dysplasia and carcinogenesis. Moreover, increased expression of Apelin in moderate compared to well differentiated hepatocellular carcinomas suggests a role in cancer cell differentiation. These findings could have both prognostic and therapeutic applications. Disclosures: The following people have nothing to disclose: Rola M. Farid, Riham M. Abu-Zeid, Ahmed El-Tawil Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play an important role in down-regulating the function of T cell responses. However, little is known regarding the characteristic of MDSCs in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients.