Signs of Kupffer cell involvement in productive simian immunodeficiency virus infection in monkey liver

Early ART reduces viral seeding and innate immunity in liver and lungs of SIV-infected macaques

Identifying immune cells and anatomical tissues that contribute to the establishment of viral reservoirs is of central importance in HIV-1 cure research. Herein, we used rhesus macaques (RMs) infected with SIVmac251 to analyze viral seeding in the liver and lungs of either untreated or early antiretroviral therapy-treated (ART-treated) RMs. Consistent with viral replication and sensing, transcriptomic analyses showed higher levels of inflammation, pyroptosis, and chemokine genes as well as of interferon-stimulating gene (ISG) transcripts, in the absence of ART. Our results highlighted the infiltration of monocyte-derived macrophages (HLA-DR+CD11b+CD14+CD16+) in inflamed liver and lung tissues associated with the expression of CD183 and CX3CR1 but also with markers of tissue-resident macrophages (CD206+ and LYVE+). Sorting of myeloid cell subsets demonstrated that CD14+CD206-, CD14+CD206+, and CD14-CD206+ cell populations were infected, in the liver and lungs, in SIVmac251-infected RMs. Of importance, early ART drastically reduced viral seeding consistent with the absence of ISG detection but also of genes related to inflammation and tissue damage. Viral DNA was only detected in CD206+HLA-DR+CD11b+ cells in ART-treated RMs. The observation of pulmonary and hepatic viral rebound after ART interruption reinforces the importance of early ART implementation to limit viral seeding and inflammatory reactions.

Special Considerations in the Management of HIV and Viral Hepatitis Coinfections in Liver Transplantation

Modern therapies for hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and human immunodeficiency virus have become so effective that patients treated for these conditions can have normal life-expectancies. Suitable livers for transplantation remain a scarce and valuable resource. As such, significant efforts have been made to expand donation criteria at many centers. This constant pressure, coupled with the increasing effectiveness of antiviral therapies, has meant that more and more patients infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may be considered appropriate donors in the right circumstances. Patients with these infections are also more likely to be considered appropriate transplantation recipients than in the past. The treatment of HBV, HCV, and HIV after liver transplantation (LT) can be challenging and complicated by viral coinfections. The various pharmaceutical agents used to treat these infections, as well as the immunosuppressants used post-LT must be carefully balanced for maximum efficacy, and to avoid resistance and drug–drug interactions.

A histological assessment of effects of sucralose on liver of albino rats

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

Sucralose is an artificial sweetener freely available under different brand names over the counter. This study is aimed at evaluating the histopathological changes in the liver after administration of sub lethal dose of pure sucralose.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Inbred adult Wistar albino rats weighing about 150-200g of either sex, were divided into 6 control rats and 6 experimental rats. Experimental rats were given sucralose orally by gavage in the dose of 3g/kg/day dissolved in distilled water for 30 days whereas Control rats received equal quantity of distilled water by the same route. The animals were anesthetized with anesthetic ether and then perfused with 10% formal saline. Livers were dissected out. Pieces each having thickness 5mm were taken for paraffin sectioning. 5 micron thick sections were cut using a rotary microtome. Hundred slides were made from each liver and stained with hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-schiff (PAS) and Masson's trichrome stain. Slides were evaluated for histomorphological changes.

RESULTS

Experimental rats showed features of patchy degeneration of hepatocytes along with Kupffer cells hyperplasia, lymphocytic infiltration, sinusoidal dilatation and fibrosis indicating a definite hepatic damage on regular ingestion of sucralose. Sinusoidal width was also found to be increased in experimental animals as compared to controls.

CONCLUSION

It is suggestive that sucralose should be taken with caution to avoid hepatic damage. Effects of ingestion of sucralose on human subjects should be investigated further.

Kupffer cells are depleted with HIV immunodeficiency and partially recovered with antiretroviral immune reconstitution

OBJECTIVES

HIV-related enhancement of gut microbial translocation is associated with progression of hepatic fibrosis. Although hepatic macrophages (Kupffer cells) clear most microbial translocation products and can be infected by HIV, their fate in HIV progression has not been carefully investigated.

METHODS

We studied Kupffer cell density (KCD) in 76 HIV-hepatitis C virus coinfected patients investigated at various stages of liver disease and CD4(+) lymphocyte depletion (and restoration).

RESULTS

KCD averaged 23 cells per high-powered field (range 4.4-52.2) and was highest in portal and periportal regions as compared with centrilobular regions (P < 0.001). No differences were detected in KCD by age, liver fibrosis stage, or hepatic inflammatory score. Compared with individuals without apparent HIV-related immunosuppression, however, KCD was substantially lower in persons with lower peripheral blood CD4(+) lymphocyte counts (P = 0.027) and lowest among those with deepest CD4(+) lymphocyte nadir (P = 0.006). After the initial liver biopsy, eight patients began antiretroviral therapy and had immune restoration (> or = 2-fold increase in peripheral CD4(+) lymphocyte count) and a second histologic evaluation with a median of 36.8 months later (range 28.1-58.4 months); KCD increased in all (P = 0.007).

CONCLUSION

Given the central role of Kupffer cells in controlling microbial translocation, these data suggest Kupffer cell loss needs to be considered in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis in HIV-hepatitis C virus coinfected persons. The abundance of portal and periportal Kupffer cells is suggestive of their contribution to fibrosis in periportal regions in chronic viral hepatitis.

Coexpression of alpha 1A- and alpha 1B-adrenoceptors in the liver of the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta)

The alpha 1-adrenoceptors present in the liver of rhesus monkeys was characterized using [3H]prazosin. This radioligand binds to monkey liver membranes with high affinity (KD 0.33 nM) to a moderately abundant number of sites (97 fmol/mg of protein). These sites were characterized pharmacologically, by binding competition, observing two affinities for most ligands. The order of potency for agonists was: (a) for the high affinity sites: oximetazoline > epinephrine = norepinephrine > methoxamine; and (b) for the other sites (low affinity for the alpha 1A-adrenoceptor-selective agonists): oximetazoline > or = epinephrine = norepinephrine > > methoxamine. For antagonists the orders of potency were: (a) for the high affinity sites: R-(-)-5[2-[[2-(ethoxyphenoxy)ethyl]amino]propyl]-2-metoxybenzen esulfonamide HCl (tamsulosin) > or = 2-(2,6-dimethoxyphenoxyethyl)-aminomethyl-1,4-benzodioxane (WB4101) > or = prazosin > or = (+)-niguldipine > 5-methylurapidil = benoxathian > phentolamine > 8-[2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl]-8-azaspiro[4,5]deca ne-7,9- dione dihydrochloride (BMY 7378); (b) for the other sites (low affinity for the alpha 1A-adrenoceptor-selective antagonists): prazosin > tamsulosin > phentolamine = WB4101 > (+)-niguldipine > or = 5-methyl-urapidil = benoxathian > BMY 7378. These data strongly suggest that Macaca mulatta liver cells coexpress alpha 1A- and alpha 1B-adrenoceptors. Expression of the mRNA for these receptors was confirmed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactions.