Increases of Resident Hepatic Macrophages and Circulation-derived Monocytes in the Livers of Patients with Chronic Liver Diseases

section. XXIII Annual meeting of the Latin American association for the study of the liver. , 2014; 13 (5): 601-620 602 (37.45 ± 4.79/HPF, P < 0.001) (Figure 1A). A larger number of MAC387+ monocytes infiltrated livers of CLD patients (40.45 ± 35.17/HPF) than normal tissues (2.45 ± 2.78/HPF, P < 0.001) (Figure 1B). In different etiologies of CLD patients, the CD68+ macrophages and MAC387+ monocytes were all significantly increased (P < 0.001). In addition, chronic HBV infected patients with higher G scores had more CD68+ macrophages and MAC387+ monocytes in their livers compared to those with lower G scores. Significantly more MAC387+ monocytes were found in the liver tissues of chronic HBV infected patients with higher S scores compared to those with lower S scores. CD68+ macrophages also showed a trend of positive association with S score in these patients. CD68+ macrophage numbers were positively correlated with serum ALT (r = 0.298, P = 0.005), AST (r = 0.361, P = 0.001) and total bilirubin (r = 0.278, P = 0.008) levels. MAC387+ monocyte numbers were negatively correlated with serum albumin (r = -0.247, P = 0.02). Conclusions. Resident hepatic CD68+ macrophages and circulation-derived MAC387+ monocytes may play a pathological role in exacerbating chronic liver inflammation and fibrosis in CLD patients. Thus, inhibition of macrophages and monocytes would be a potential therapeutic option for CLD patients.