Differing distribution of hepatocyte growth factor-positive cells in the liver of LEC rats with acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis and hepatoma.
Using anti-rat hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) antibody, we investigated the distribution of HGF-positive cells in the liver tissues of LEC rats at various phases of liver diseases. During the phase of fulminant hepatitis, HGF-positive cells increased remarkably, and many of them were localized at the portal triads; these cells were identified from their shape as non-epithelial cells. A reduced number of HGF-positive cells was observed during the phase of chronic hepatitis, while no HGF-positive cells were seen in the tissue of cholangiofibrosis. During the phase of carcinoma, staining revealed that both the hepatocellular carcinoma cells and the non-epithelial cells in cancerous liver tissue were HGF-positive. These results suggest that, in LEC rats, HGF may play an important role in the regeneration of hepatocytes as well as in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Nakayama
N
N
Laboratory of Cell Biology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo.
Kashiwazaki
H
H
Kobayashi
N
N
Hamada
J
J
Matsumoto
K
K
Nakamura
T
T
Takeichi
N
N
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006520:Hepatitis, Animal / Q000473:pathology*; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats
D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor