The hepatocellular expression of a carbohydrate antigen ‘sialyl Lewis X’ in chronic hepatitis: A novel histological marker for active hepatic necroinflammation

The hepatocellular expression of the carbohydrate antigen sialyl monomeric Lewis X (SMLe x) and sialyl oligomeric Lewis X (SOLe x) in chronic hepatitis was examined using specific monoclonal antibodies. Both of these sialyl Lewis X (SLe x) antigens were membranously expressed in chronic hepatitis in spite of their absence in normal liver. Although SMLe x was detected in mild hepatic inflammation, the expression of SOLe x was associated only with moderate to severe necroinflammation. Hepatocellular expression of these antigens increased significantly as histological diagnosis advanced. Chronological observation also showed the change of SLe x expression according to the histological change. The present observations suggest that hepatocellular SLe x is a novel histological marker with a close correlation to the severity ecroinflammation in chronic hepatitis.