Premium
Basement Membrane Production by Hepatocytes in Chronic Liver Disease
Author(s) -
Bianchi Francesco B.,
Biagini Graziella,
Ballardini Giorgio,
Cenacchi Giovanna,
Faccani Augusto,
Pisi Emilio,
Laschi Renzo,
Liotta Lance,
Garbisa Spiridione
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.1840040612
Subject(s) - basement membrane , laminin , fibronectin , pathology , parenchyma , type iv collagen , perisinusoidal space , extracellular matrix , biology , hepatocyte , stromal cell , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , biochemistry , in vitro
The immunohistologic distribution of fibronectin, laminin, type IV collagen and whole basement membrane was evaluated in liver biopsies from patients with chronic active liver disease. Fibronectin was consistently increased in the areas of piecemeal necrosis, portal tracts and fibrous septa. Laminin was not detected in normal liver parenchyma. In contrast, laminin positive linear basement membrane structures were prevalent in portal tracts, fibrous septa and the peripheral sinusoids of cirrhotic nodules. In areas of piecemeal necrosis, the hepatocytes, single or assembled in “rosettes”, were frequently underlined by linear deposits of laminin and type IV collagen. This immunoreactivity was often polarized, being confined to the stromal side of liver cells, while the parenchymal side was negative for both proteins. Electron microscopy revealed a typical basement membrane in corresponding areas. Hepatocytes normally do not produce a basement membrane, but do so following chronic injury. We suggest that the polarized basement membrane accumulation by hepatocytes is a hallmark of hepatocyte regeneration following damage.