Expression of SOCS-1 in the liver tissues of chronic hepatitis B and its clinical significance

AIM: To study the expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS-1) in the liver tissues of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and the clinical significance of this expression. METHODS: The expression of SOCS-1 in liver tissues of 45 cases of CHB was investigated by immunohistochemical staining, and its correlations with inflammation grades and fibrosis stage were analyzed by SPSS statistics software. RESULTS: The result showed SOCS-1 expressing could be observed in the liver tissue of CHB. The expression of SOCS-1 was mainly distributed near the portal area in the liver tissue of mild inflammation CHB group, and was diffusely distributed in the liver tissue of moderate and severe inflammation groups. SOCS-1 positive stains mainly appear in the hepatocytes, only a few of liver interstitial cells were involved. Inside the hepatocyte, SOCS-1 positive stains are mainly distributed in the plasma. Some of the staining was observed on the membrane. The inclusion bodies in the plasma of hepatocytes were observed occasionally. There were both obvious correlations between the expression of SOCS-1 and the inflammatory grade, and that between the expression of SOCS-1 and the fibrosis stage. CONCLUSION: The distribution of SOCS-1 in the liver tissue of CHB is variable. This expression was correlated with the inflammation grade and fibrosis stage. (c) 2008 WJG. All rights reserved.