Spotlight on the three main hepatic fibrogenic cells in HCV-infected patients: Multiple immunofluorescence and ultrastructure study

• Published in: Ultrastructural pathology Vol. 40; no. 5; pp. 276 - 287
• Main Authors: Mansy, Soheir S., Nosseir, Mona M., Othman, May M., Zoheiry, Mona A., Guda, Mohammed F., Yehia, Hoda A., Hassanein, Moataz H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 02-09-2016
• Subjects: Bone marrow fibrocyte; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; fibroblast; Fibroblasts - ultrastructure; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; hepatic stellate cell; Hepatic Stellate Cells - ultrastructure; Hepatitis C - complications; Hepatitis C - pathology; Humans; Hyaluronic Acid; Liver Cirrhosis - pathology; Liver Cirrhosis - virology; liver fibrosis; Microscopy, Confocal; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; myofibroblast; Myofibroblasts - ultrastructure; liver fibrosis; hepatic stellate cell; fibroblast; Bone marrow fibrocyte; myofibroblast
• ISSN: 0191-3123; 1521-0758
• DOI: 10.1080/01913123.2016.1194507

The present work deals with the simultaneous ultrastructure and triple immunofluorescence study of the three main hepatic fibrogenic cells, hepatic stellate cell, myofibroblast (MF), and fibroblast, in a group of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA positive patients, as their exact interrelation behavior in vivo with the progress of hepatic fibrosis is still inadequate. In this study, for the first time, cells having the morphological characteristic of MF and not bone marrow fibrocytes were revealed in liver portal vessels. This necessitates the reevaluation of the available knowledge concerning bone marrow fibrocyte. Also, the distribution, cellular interrelations, and the fate of MF were highlighted.