title: Serum hyaluronate reflects hepatic sinusoidal capillarization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most of circulating hyaluronate has been commonly degraded by hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs). In hepatic sinusoidal capillarization, SECs morphologically change and also seem to decrease hyaluronate degradation. This work expands on the relationship between serum hyaluronate levels and changes in hepatic SECs accompanying hepatic sinusoidal capillarization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum hyaluronate levels were determined using an enzyme binding assay system. Liver biopsy specimens were collected to examine basement-membrane formation, the localization of Weibel-Palade bodies, and the localization of factor VIII-related antigen (FVIIIRAg) in SECs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum hyaluronate levels increased with the progression of liver disorder, being high in all patients with liver cirrhosis. Patients showing markedly high serum hyaluronate levels, 200 ng/mL or more, had liver cirrhosis involving the SECs, which showed basement-membrane formation, Weibel-Palade bodies, and FVIIIRAg and closely resembled vascular endothelial cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Measurement of the serum hyaluronate concentration allows the evaluation of morphological and functional changes that occur in SEC accompanying hepatic sinusoidal capillarization in various liver disorders. The findings also suggest that patients with high serum hyaluronate levels, 200 ng/mL or more, have liver cirrhosis with typical hepatic sinusoidal capillarization formed by SECs containing FVIIIRAg.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inuzuka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Torimura
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tamaki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kin
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Minetoma
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohira
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sata
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology; D004727:Endothelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008102:Liver Circulation; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid