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6th ESACP Congress, Heidelberg, April 7-11, 1999 |
A156
An increased functional activity and proliferation of the hepatic stellate
cells in the liver biopsies of the patients with cirrhosis and chronic
hepatitis B and C have been demonstrated in this study by use of
immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Both morphological methods
provided a strong evidence that proliferation of the hepatic stellate cells
is associated with the phenotypic changes of these cells. These
ultrastructural changes include a decrease of an amount of vitamin A-
containing lipid inclusions, an increase of rough endoplasmic reticulum and
appearance of abundant intracellular microfilaments near the plasma membrane.
There was a marked ultrastructural heterogeneity in the population of the
hepatic stellate cells observed in the present study. During hepatic injury
in case of chronic liver disease some of the above mentioned cells
transformed into the myofibroblast-like cells. An increase of extracellular
matrix, including collagen microfibrills, has been noticed near the
myofibroblast like cell surface. Cytoplasm of these cells contained
numerous actin microfilaments that have been demonstrated also
immunohistochemically. A marked proliferation of stellate and myofibroblastic
cells has been observed in the close proximity to the damaged hepatocytes.
ULTRASTRUCTURAL AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL EVODENCE OF THE HEPATIC STELLATE
CELL PROLIFERATION AND INCREASED FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY IN CHRONIC LIVER
DISEASE
Zalcmane V, Groma V
Medical Academy of Lativia, Riga, Latvia