Alpha-smooth-muscle actin expression in normal and fibrotic human livers.
To determine the significance of the expression of alpha-smooth-muscle actin in the fibrotic human liver, normal and diseased livers were stained with anti-alpha-smooth-muscle-actin antibody by an immunoperoxidase method. Vitamin A-containing lipocytes were also identified by the modified Kupffer's gold chloride method. In the normal human liver, lipocytes as well as vascular smooth muscle cells expressed alpha-smooth-muscle actin. In alcoholic liver disease, there was an increase in the cells positive for alpha-smooth-muscle actin adjacent to the fibrotic areas, but the response of lipocytes to the gold chloride reaction diminished. In chronic hepatitis, the cells positive for alpha-smooth-muscle actin increased around the enlarged portal areas, and the response to the gold chloride reaction did not change appreciably. An increase in the cells positive for alpha-smooth-muscle actin was associated with the progression of hepatic fibrosis in the liver of patients with alcoholic liver disease and chronic hepatitis.
Yamaoka
K
K
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan.
Nouchi
T
T
Marumo
F
F
Sato
C
C
D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D003893:Desmin / Q000032:analysis*; D006046:Gold / Q000032:analysis; D017612:Gold Compounds; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D012016:Reference Values; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000378:metabolism
D000199:Actins; D015415:Biomarkers; D003893:Desmin; D017612:Gold Compounds; D014801:Vitamin A; C038016:gold chloride; D006046:Gold