title: Expression of progenitor cell markers in livers with fulminant massive necrosis.
abstract: Studies of stem cells in various organs have greatly progressed, and progenitor cells have been confirmed even in liver by recognition of cytokeratin 14 (CK14), c-kit, flt-3, and CD34. We, therefore, immunohistochemically examined the expression of these progenitor cell markers in patients with confluent or massive necrosis, in addition to CK19, albumin, vimentin, and Ki-67. Our subjects were six survivors and 14 deceased patients. Expression of CK14 and c-kit was found in a small number of cells lining biliary ductule-like structures, and that of flt-3 was found in many lining cells in two deceased patients with multi-lobular necrosis. CK14 positive cells were positive for c-kit, flt-3, and CK19 in semi-serial sections, but were negative for albumin, Ki-67, and CD34. In conclusion, expression of CK14 and c-kit was found in a small number of cells lining biliary ductule-like structures, and that of flt-3 was found in many cells lining biliary ductule-like structures. CK14-positive cells were positive for c-kit, but negative for CD34. Since c-kit is a hematopoietic marker, our study suggests that CK14- and c-kit-positive cells may be derived from bone marrow in liver with fulminant hepatitis.
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka City University Medical School, 1-4-3 Asahimachi, Abenoku, 545-8585, Osaka, Japan
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seki
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kitada
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwai
authors.forename: Norifumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kawada
authors.forename: Yoshitake
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Soo Ryang
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kim