A role of mast cells for hepatic fibrosis in primary sclerosing cholangitis

M Ishii; M Iwai; Y Harada; T Morikawa; T Okanoue; T Kishikawa; Y Tsuchihashi; K Hanai; N Arizono

doi:10.1016/j.hepres.2005.01.007

A role of mast cells for hepatic fibrosis in primary sclerosing cholangitis

Hepatol Res. 2005 Mar;31(3):127-31. doi: 10.1016/j.hepres.2005.01.007.

Authors

M Ishii¹, M Iwai, Y Harada, T Morikawa, T Okanoue, T Kishikawa, Y Tsuchihashi, K Hanai, N Arizono

Affiliation

¹ Department of Molecular Gastroenterology Hepatology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto 602-0841, Japan.

PMID: 15777700
DOI: 10.1016/j.hepres.2005.01.007

Abstract

We encountered four patients with overt primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) which were histologically classified into stage 2 or 3. We examined the expression of stem cell factor (SCF), a ligand of c-kit, in injured bile ducts by immunohistochemistry, and mast cells were identified by immunohistochemistry using anti-HMCT (human mast cell tryptase) and anti-c-kit antibodies to clarify their relation with portal fibrosis coincident with destroyed bile ducts. SCF was detected in the epithelia of most bile ducts in PSC, and many HMCT- and c-kit-positive mast cells were found in portal tracts. Image analysis showed more significant numbers of c-kit-positive mast cells per area of portal tract in PSC than in chronic hepatitis C, and they might increase from stage 2 to 3. c-Kit-positive cells infiltrated into the portal tracts with SCF-positive destroyed bile ducts, and c-kit mast cells should be investigated in detail to make a role for portal fibrosis in PSC.