Expression of CD14, CD34 and transforming growth factor-β1 in liver biopsy of biliary atresia

Abstract

Objective To explore the expression of surface glycoprotein protein hepatocyte 14 (CD14), vascular endothelial growth factor 34 (CD34) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in liver biopsy of biliary atresia (BA) and examine the role of liver fibrosis. Methods From January 2013 to January 2014, liver biopsy specimens were collected intraoperatively from BA patients undergoing Kasai procedure (Kasai group), BA patients after Kasai procedure with liver transplantation (transplantation group) and congenital biliary dilation patients (CBD group as control) (n=15 each). The hematoxylin & eosin staining and immunohistochemistry were used to observe the degree of liver fibrosis and detect the expression of CD14, CD34 and TGF-β1 and determine their localizations. The image analysis software of Image-Pro-Plus was used to analyze the values of integrated optical density (IOD) for CD14 and TGF-β1 proteins in different groups and CD34 positive area. SPSS 17.0 statistical software was used for single factor ANOVA analysis (P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis (P<0.01) showed that there was correlation between three groups about the expression of different proteins. Results CD14 was expressed in myeloid liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, fibroblasts and inflammatory cells. And TGF-β1 was expressed in fibroblasts, biliary epithelial cells and inflammatory cells while CD34 in portal area and proliferating vascular endothelial cells. Compared with CBD group, the expressions of CD34, CD14 and TGF-β1 proteins were up-regulated in experimental group. From the perspective of liver fibrosis grading (stage I-IV) in BA. The expression of CD14 and TGF-β1 proteins decreased gradually while the expression of CD34 increased. The difference was statistically significant between three groups about the expression of CD14, TGF-β1 and CD34 proteins (P<0.05), the expression of CD14 and TGF-β1 proteins were significantly correlated (P<0.05) whereas the expression of TGF-β1 and CD34 proteins significantly positively correlated. Conclusions The expression of CD14 and TGF-β1 in liver fibrosis increase gradually in BA. And liver cirrhosis may be accelerated. In advanced disease, all cells are damaged and become substituted by fibrosis. And the levels of three proteins gradually decline. Key words: Biliary atresia; Antigens, CD14; Antigens, CD34; Transforming growth factor beta1