Journal
IMMUNOLOGY
Volume 138, Issue 3, Pages 228-234Publisher
WILEY-BLACKWELL
DOI: 10.1111/imm.12024
Keywords
complement 5a; hepatic stellate cell; hepatitis B virus; liver fibrosis
Categories
Funding
- National Key Basic Research Programme of China [2012CB519005]
- National Natural Science Foundation of China [31170865]
- National Grand Programme on Key Infectious Disease [2012ZX10002-007-002]
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Complement 5a (C5a) is a critical modulator of liver immunity. In this study, we investigated the role of C5a and its receptor in liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis B virus infection. We found that plasma C5a concentration was significantly increased in patients with chronic hepatitis B, particularly in those patients with higher grade and stage scores. Further analysis indicated that the increased C5a concentration was positively correlated with clinical parameters reflecting liver fibrosis severity, including type IV collagen and procollagen type III N-terminal peptide. Our in vitro data indicated that the C5a receptor is highly expressed in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Addition of C5a significantly activated HSCs and up-regulated -smooth muscle actin, hyaluronic acid and type IV collagen expression. Also, addition of C5a could inhibit the spontaneous and soluble tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-induced apoptosis of HSCs. These findings highlight the potential role of C5a in the regulation of liver fibrosis.
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