B-Cell Gene Signature with Massive Intrahepatic Production of Antibodies to Hepatitis B Core Antigen in HBV-Associated Acute Liver Failure

Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated acute liver failure (ALF) is a dramatic clinical syndrome due to a sudden loss of hepatic cells leading to multiorgan failure. The mechanisms whereby HBV induces ALF are unknown. We used gene expression profiling to establish a molecular definition of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated ALF. Two patients who underwent liver transplantation for HBV-associated ALF were studied. Gene expression profiling was performed on 8 liver specimens obtained from the two patients with ALF (4 samples per liver) and individual liver specimens from 8 liver donors and normal livers from 11 patients who underwent resection for angioma. Statistical analyses were used to identify the signature genes of HBV-associated ALF. Multivariate permutation analysis identified 1,368 transcripts that were differentially expressed in ALF; 709 were up-regulated and 659 down-regulated. The most represented up-regulated transcripts were those involved in the immune response, whereas the most abundant down-regulated transcripts were those involved in metabolism and hepatic synthesis. ALF was characterized by overriding B-cell signature comprising genes related to mature B cells and plasma cells with abundant polyclonal expression of immunoglobulin genes. By contrast, there was a limited T-cell signature and up-regulation of several inhibitors of T-cell activation. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the prominent B-cell signature showing diffuse liver infiltration by plasma blasts and plasma cells with strong cytoplasmic staining for IgM and IgG, associated with a significant deposition of complement factors. Using phage display technology, we demonstrated that the molecular target of the massive intrahepatic antibody response is the hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg). These data suggest that the humoral immunity may exert a primary role in the pathogenesis of HBV-associated ALF.

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Farci P, Diaz G, Chen Z, Govindarajan S, Tice A, Agulto L, Pittaluga S, Boon D, Yu C, Engle RE, Haas M, Simon R, Purcell RH, Zamboni F