Distribution of Ito cells in experimental hepatic fibrosis

Abstract

Ito cells (FSC) have been thought to be collagen-producing cells with regard to hepatic fibrosis. We have found that desmin, a structural protein of muscular intermediate filaments, is found in the cytoplasm of FSC, even in negative vitamin Aautofluorescence FSC, by using immunocytochemical techniques. In the present study, numbers of FSC produced by the administration of heterogeneic serum or carbon tetrachloride were detected in fibrous and non-fibrous areas of hepatic lobules by using a morphometrical analyser. After 8 weeks of intraperitoneal injections of heterogeneic serum into rats, FSC in fibrous septa increased in number and the increase continued to 12 weeksalthough the numbers of FSC in non-fibrous areas and in controls given homologous serum did not change during the experiment. In the case of rats administered CCL once, FSC in fibrous areas increased in numbers after 48 h through 72 h, although the number of FSC in non-fibrous areas and in controls did not change. The results, with an apparent increase in numbers of FSC in fibrous areas and no change in non-fibrous areas, showed the possibility of hyperplasia due to cell division of FSC in the new fibroplastic areas.

Fibrosis, Portal Hypertension, and Hepatic Volume Changes Induced by Intra-arterial Radiotherapy with 90Yttrium Microspheres

“…Radiation-induced liver disease (RILD) typically occurs 4-8 weeks after the completion of treatment, although it has been described as early as 2 weeks and as late as 7 months [29,30]. After any type of liver injury, hepatic stellate cells proliferate in the affected sites and undergo a myofibroblastic transformation preceding the production of extracellular matrix and hepatic fibrosis [31,32]. Those activated hepatic stellate cells are rarely seen in non-irradiated liver parenchyma.…”

Transplanted Human Amniotic Membrane-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Ameliorate Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Cirrhosis in Mouse

“…When activated, HSCs transform into myofibroblast-like cells. Since the first report by Yokoi et al [29], desmin has frequently been used as a marker of HSCs and reflecting the proliferation kinetics of HSCs after CCl 4 intoxication or bile duct ligation. In addition, amount of evidences demonstrated that the expression of a-SMA is a reliable and widely used marker of activation of HSCs [30], [31].…”

Anatomy, pathophysiology and basic mechanisms of disease

“…Moreover, there is an increase in stellate cells in the perivenular region prior to the development of fibrous septa. 557,558 These findings indicate that simultaneous alterations in stellate cells, extracellular matrix, and the parenchymal microvasculature occur during the evolution of cirrhosis. Put differently, microvascular changes are not merely the consequence of fibrosis and nodule formation, but are part of the evolution of cirrhosis.…”