Study of T Cell Phenotype Activation Pathway in Human Alcoholic Liver Disease

Study of T Cell Phenotype Activation Pathway in Human Alcoholic Liver Disease

Alcoholic liver disease is characterized by circulating T cell activation and liver T cell infiltration but their phenotype is poorly studied. The aim of the study is to test the hypothesis that the (CD4+ T cell secreting Interleukin-17) Th17 pathway is involved in alcoholic liver disease.

Consecutive patients undergoing transjugular liver biopsies for alcoholic liver disease or hepatitis C virus infection will be included in the study to measure plasma cytokines levels, peripheral blood mononuclear cells cytokine release and liver T cell infiltrates.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Alcohol excess intake and suspected liver disease
• Alcohol excess intake and clinical liver cirrhosis
• chronic hepatitis C virus infection and suspected liver disease
• chronic hepatitis C virus infection and clinical liver cirrhosis

Exclusion Criteria:

• bacterial or fungal infection
• immunosuppressive treatment
• other causes of liver disease