Open AccessHepatic Fibrosis
Author(s) -
Tanaka Mitsugu,
Shimoda Tadakazu,
Takaki Keizo,
Tanaka Hisako,
Kobayashi Katsumi,
Ishikawa Eisei
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
acta patholigica japonica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 74
ISSN - 0001-6632
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1827.1980.tb00967.x
Subject(s) - connective tissue , pathology , fibrosis , cirrhosis , collagenase , glycoprotein , hepatic fibrosis , chemistry , medicine , enzyme , biochemistry
Since there is a remarkable Increase in connective tissue around the proliferating bile ductules in chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis, the participation of proliferating bile ductules in hepatic fibrosis has been discussed by many during the past. With the use of immunofluorescent method, the present authors have recently succeeded in detecting alpha,‐antitrypsin, a protease inhibitor, in the epithelial cells of proliferating bile ductules and a portion of the hepatocytes connected with these epithelial cells. When considering the possibility of alpha,‐antitrypsin being secreted into the interstitial tissue, it is conceivable that this glycoprotein plays an important role in restraining collagenase activity, which takes part in the degradation of collagen, and leads to abnormal proliferation of collagen.