Proliferative Activity of Liver Cells in Viral Hepatitis B : Particularly Acinar Cells

Chung, Kyu Won; Chung, Whan Kook; Kim, Boo Sung; Park, Doo Ho; Choi, Hwang; Sun, Hee Sik

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: One of the major rnorphologic characteristics of hepatitis B (HB) is a cellular regeneration. The purpose of this study is to document the proliferative state of hepatocytes in various types of HB, using immunohistochemical staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA).
METHODS
Eighty-three cases with HB comprise 11 cases of acute hepatitis (AH), 24 cases of chronic lobular hepatitis (CLH), 34 cases of chronic active hepatitis with early cirrhosis (CAHEC) and 14 cases of circumscribed hepatie necrosis (CHN). The PCNA was tested by im- munohistochemical staining using anti-PCNA antibody.
RESULTS
The expression rate and labelling index of PCNA were 27.3% and 5.3+/-0.9% in AH, 62.5% and 22.9+/-31.7% in CLH, then 47.1% and 14.1+/-24.2% in CAHEC, respectively. By contrast, no detectable PCNA expression was noted at all in acinar liver cells (ALC). ln our follow-up study, CHN containing ALC was developed from massive hepatic necrosis which is believed to be a state of impaired regeneration, Accordingly, the regeneration of ALC seems to be impaired.
CONCLUSIONS
The false proliferating activity of ALC may he influenced by the lack in regenerating activity of precursor lesion with massive hepatic cell necrosis which is considered to be a state of impaired regeneration.