Blood group antigens in the intrahepatic biliary tree. II. Type 1 chain N-acetyllactosamine-related carbohydrate antigens in the proliferated bile ductules.
The expression of the carbohydrate antigens related to type 1 chain N-acetyllactosamine (1NAcLc) in the proliferated bile ductules was immunohistochemically examined in liver tissues of 10 cases of chronic hepatitis (CH), 9 of liver cirrhosis (LC) and 8 of alcoholic hepatitis. The ductular expression of the examined blood group antigens was essentially the same among these pathological conditions. The backbone structure, i.e., 1NAcLc (Gal beta 1----3GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----3R), was not detected in the proliferated ductules as in the normal bile ductules. Its fucosylated structures (Le(a), Le(b) and type 1 chain H) were more strongly expressed in the proliferated ductules than in the normal ductules. Sialyl-Le(a) which was not found in the normal ductules was detected weakly but definitely in the proliferated ductules. Besides proliferated ductules, single or small numbers of epithelial cells expressing the 1NAcLc-related antigens were found intralobularly. This suggests possible migration of biliary epithelial cells into the hepatic lobules. In conclusion, within the proliferated bile ductules (a) synthesis of the 1NAcLc-related antigens is increased compared to the normal ductules, (b) the backbone structure is completely sialylated or fucosylated as in the normal ductules and (c) alpha 1----4fucosylation of sialyl-1NAcLc, i.e., sialyl-Lea, formation occurs despite its absence in the normal ductules.
Jinno
K
K
Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Research, National Hospital Shikoku Cancer Center, Matsuyama, Japan.
Moriwaki
S
S
Govindarajan
S
S
Okada
Y
Y
Tsuji
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000606:Amino Sugars / Q000276:immunology*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D005260:Female; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000032:analysis*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000606:Amino Sugars; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015415:Biomarkers; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007519:Isoantigens; C000458:N-acetyllactosamine