Ultrastructural changes of hepatic stellate cells in the space of Disse in alcoholic fatty liver.
BACKGROUND
Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) has been suggested to play a role in fibrogenesis in alcoholic liver disease. We evaluate the correlation with fibrogenesis and ultrastructure of hepatic stellate cells in alcoholic fatty liver.


METHODS
We studied 6 patients with alcoholic fatty liver and 5 non-alcoholic fatty liver. The numbers of fat droplets in hepatic stellate cell was determined by electron microscopy. We also studied the grading of deposition of collagen fibers in the space of Disse. We were to evaluate the structure of hepatic stellate cells in the space of Disse by light and electron microscopy.


RESULTS
Wider distribution of fat droplets in hepatic stellate cells in alcoholic fatty liver than in normal liver. The hypertrophied endoplasmic reticulum in hepatic stellate cells is a prominent findings in alcoholic fatty liver. We observed basement membrane-like materials in patients with alcoholic fatty liver with hepatic fibrosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The results demonstrate that, in patients with alcoholic fatty liver by alcoholic liver injury, the hepatic stellate cells may play an important role in the fibrogenesis of perisinusoidal spaces in the liver.
Han
N I
NI
Department of Internal Medicine, Holy Family Hospital, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Korea.
Chung
K W
KW
Ahn
B M
BM
Choi
S W
SW
Lee
Y S
YS
Lee
C D
CD
Sun
H S
HS
D000328:Adult; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003094:Collagen / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046508:Culture Techniques; D005235:Fatty Liver, Alcoholic / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D008055:Lipids; D003094:Collagen