Immunohistochemical study of hepatic oval cells in human chronic viral hepatitis.
OBJECTIVE
To detect immunohistochemically the presence of oval cells in chronic viral hepatitis with antibody against c-kit.


METHODS
We detected oval cells in paraffin embedded liver sections of 3 normal controls and 26 liver samples from patients with chronic viral hepatitis, using immunohistochemistry with antibodies against c-kit, piclass glutathione S-transferase (pi-GST) and cytokeratins 19 (CK19).


RESULTS
Oval cells were not observed in normal livers. In chronic viral hepatitis, hepatic oval cells were located predominantly in the periportal region and fibrosis septa,characterized by an ovoid nucleus, small size,and scant cytoplasm. Antibody against stem cell factor receptor, c-kit, had higher sensitivity and specificity than pi-GST and CK19. About 50%-70% of c-kit positive oval cells were stained positively for either pi-GST or CK19.


CONCLUSIONS
Oval cells are frequently detected in human livers with chronic viral hepatitis, suggesting that oval cell proliferation is associated with the liver regeneration in this condition.
Ma
X
X
Shanghai Institute of Digestive Diseases, Renji Hospital, 145 Shandong Zhong Road, Shanghai 200001, China. xiongma@netease.com
Qiu
D K
DK
Peng
Y S
YS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D008875:Middle Aged; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism
D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit