Cytokeratin 8 and 18 expression in imprint smears of chronic viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. A preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether the expression of cytokeratin (CK) 8 and 18 is altered in chronic active viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

STUDY

DESIGN

Cytologic imprint smears were obtained from 53 liver core biopsy specimens and were studied immunocytochemically for the expression of CK8 and 18.

RESULTS

CK8-positive expression was observed in 45.5% of chronic active hepatitis B (CH-B), 20% of chronic active hepatitis C (CH-C), 90% of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and 83.3% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases. CK18-positive expression was observed in 36.4% of CH-B, 26.7% of CH-C, 70% of AIH and 83.3% of HCC cases. A statistically significant association was found between CK8- and CK18-positive expression and the diagnosis of AIH and HCC. In contrast, CH-C and CH-B were associated with negative CK8 and CK18 expression. In addition, a negative [CK8(-)/CK18(-)] or imbalanced [CK8(-)/CK18(+), CK8(+)/CK18(-)] expression pattern was found in 100.0% and 81.18% of CH-C and CH-B cases, respectively, while the relative percentages of AIH and HCC cases were significantly lower (30.0% and 16.7%, respectively) (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that CK8 and 18 expression is maintained in AIH and HCC and altered in CH-B and CH-C. The pathogenetic mechanism of this alteration remains to be clarified.