Aberrant cytokeratin 7 expression of centrilobular hepatocytes: a clinicopathological study.
OBJECTIVE
This study has attempted to elucidate the clinicopathological features of aberrant cytokeratin 7 (CK7) expression by centrilobular hepatocytes.


RESULTS
A total of 113 liver biopsy specimens from patients with common non-neoplastic liver diseases, including hepatitis B or C, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, alcoholic liver disease and other diseases were examined. In 56 specimens (49.6%), CK7-positive centrilobular hepatocytes (CK7 + CHs) were identified and sometimes showed binuclear features. CK7 + CHs were associated with patients' older age (P = 0.004), higher serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (P = 0.016) and γ-glutamyltransferase (P = 0.006), centrilobular fibrosis (P < 0.001), prominent thickening of hepatocytic plates (P < 0.001) and higher scores of total and periportal CK7-positive hepatocytes (both P < 0.001), but were not correlated with gender, steatosis, serum levels of total bilirubin or alanine aminotransferase. In 55 cases of hepatitis B and hepatitis C only, CK7 + CHs were related to a higher stage of fibrosis (P = 0.006).


CONCLUSIONS
CK7 + CHs occur relatively frequently in non-neoplastic liver disease, associated with centrilobular scarring and the presence of CK7-positive periportal hepatocytes, and appear to be a non-specific phenomenon with respect aetiology of underlying disease. CK7 + CHs may represent age-dependent activation of hepatic progenitor cells or a regenerative phenomenon of hepatocytes themselves, both of which might contribute to liver regeneration.
Department of Pathology, Japan Self Defense Forces Central Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. skuma@cocoa.plala.or.jp
Susumu
S
Matsukuma
Hiroaki
H
Takeo
Takako
T
Kono
Yuiko
Y
Nagata
Kimiya
K
Sato
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D053552:Keratin-7 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D055815:Young Adult; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
C507497:KRT7 protein, human; D053552:Keratin-7; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; C554782:gamma-glutamyltransferase, human; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001663:Bilirubin