Dynamics of the vascular profile of the finer branches of the biliary tree in normal and diseased human livers

Gouw, Annette S.H.; Heuvel, Marius C. van den; Boot, Marcel; Slooff, Maarten J. H.; Poppema, Sibrand; Jong, Koert P. de

doi:10.1016/j.jhep.2006.03.015

Cited by 27 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…However, little is known about the vascularization of smaller branches of the biliary tree in the human liver. In normal livers, these structures were consistently escorted by microvessels as described previously [26] and shown by the reperfusion biopsies of the present study. In end stage CR lower numbers of bile ductules with escorting microvessels were observed [26].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

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The finest branches of the biliary tree might induce biliary vascularization necessary for biliary regeneration

Heuvel

Gouw

Boot

et al. 2006

Journal of Hepatology

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…We showed that proliferative activity of the smaller branches of the biliary tree is accompanied by enhanced expression of VEGF-A in these structures in various human liver diseases [26]. A comparable VEGF expression was described in a rat model of bile duct ischemia [33].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 53%

The finest branches of the biliary tree might induce biliary vascularization necessary for biliary regeneration

Heuvel

Gouw

Boot

et al. 2006

Journal of Hepatology

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“…In addition to former observations [19,24] that venular branches are present in vascular septa, we noticed NG-2-stained arterioles running in line with the ductules. There have been speculations about bile ductule escorting hepatic arterioles [18,19,25,26,27] but no convincing evidence has been published so far.…”

Section: Distribution Of Hepatic Ductules In the Liver Parenchymasupporting

confidence: 81%

“…Taken together, confocal analysis of normal human liver revealed the deposition of small amounts of extracellular matrix between hepatic lobules, with expanding biliary ductules and blood vessels. This kind of arrangement of the blood vessels was described earlier as the vascular septum [18,19]. The small amount of matrix could not be visualized on traditional histological sections by special stainings on any of our liver samples.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 53%

Architectural and Immunohistochemical Characterization of Biliary Ductules in Normal Human Liver

Dezső

Paku

Papp

et al. 2009

Stem Cells and Development

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The canals of Hering or biliary ductules have been described to connect the bile canaliculi with the interlobular bile ducts, and thus forming the distal part of the biliary tree. Studies in the last two decades suggested that the cells constructing these ductules could behave as hepatic progenitor cells. The canals of Hering are confined to the periportal space in the rat, while they have been reported to spread beyond the limiting plate in human liver. The distribution of the distal biliary ductules in normal human hepatic tissue has been investigated in our recent experiments. We could demonstrate the presence of interlobular connective tissue septa in a rudimentary form in healthy livers. The canals of Hering run in these septa in line with the terminal branches of the portal vein and hepatic arteries. This arrangement develops in the postnatal period but regresses after early childhood. The canals of Hering can be identified by the unique epithelial membrane antigen (EMA)-/CD56+/CD133+ immunophenotype. The canals of Hering leave the periportal space and spread into the liver parenchyma along rudimentary interlobular septa outlining the hepatic lobules. Our observations refine the original architectural description of the intraparenchymal portion of the canals of Hering in the human liver. The distinct immunophenotype supports their unique biological function.

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“…These can be considered as different transformation stages between sinusoids and small portal venules, compatible with the so-called "portalized sinusoids" according to Ekataksin and Wake [10,18]. Immunohistochemical studies of the vasculature in DR in human liver have further shown that ductules and vessels react in unison, and that-like in the embryonic period [19]-the ductules precede and induce [20] and also maintain [21] their . Cirrhotic stage of liver in biopsy from patient with non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis (NASH).…”

Section: Ductal Plate Configuration In Ductular Reactionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Ductal plates in hepatic ductular reactions. Hypothesis and implications. II. Ontogenic liver growth in childhood

Desmet

2011

Virchows Arch

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This article discusses the processes of bile duct growth and new lobule formation in the liver during childhood in the light of the ductal plate (DP) hypothesis. Unlike in other organs in which tubular elongation and branching ends with the creation of the organ-specific terminal differentiation products, in the liver a steadily enlarging parenchymal mass needs to establish continuity of its canalicular network with the existing bile duct system. The hypothesis suggests that this occurs by DP formation, like in the embryonic liver, and further assumes that pathological ductular reactions (DRs) induced by cholestasis or hypoxia are amplified equivalents of similar mechanisms operating at low level during liver growth. The concept is confronted with data on porcine liver growth, since swine and non-swine liver growth is thought to be comparable. Relative bile acid load may be the driving force for establishment of new canaliculo-ductular connections, supported in zones of relative hypoxia by hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha secreted by hepatocytes. The latter mechanism is at the base for induction of appropriate vascular changes in selected sinusoids, resulting in the development of portal inlet venules and additional draining central veins. The process gives rise to the formation of new single lobules by formation of new portal tracts or to the transformation of single lobules in compound lobules by development of new vascular septa. The concept of postnatal DP formation is important in the elucidation of several unexplained findings in adult liver diseases.

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Dynamics of the vascular profile of the finer branches of the biliary tree in normal and diseased human livers

Cited by 27 publications

References 26 publications

The finest branches of the biliary tree might induce biliary vascularization necessary for biliary regeneration

The finest branches of the biliary tree might induce biliary vascularization necessary for biliary regeneration

Architectural and Immunohistochemical Characterization of Biliary Ductules in Normal Human Liver

Ductal plates in hepatic ductular reactions. Hypothesis and implications. II. Ontogenic liver growth in childhood

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