Hepatic chymase level in chronic hepatitis: co-localization of chymase with fibrosis

Serial changes in expression of functionally clustered genes in progression of liver fibrosis in hepatitis C patients

“…Shimizu et al [15] reported co-localization of chymase with fibrotic tissue, and we have reported increased expression of marker genes for mast cells, including chymase, in progression of fibrosis in a DNMinduced rat fibrosis model. The results reported here also show correlation of the expression of chymase with the stage of fibrosis.…”

The controversial role of mast cells in fibrosis

“…This is evident with liver fibrosis of different aetiologies including alcoholic liver disease, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), primary sclerosing cholangitis, and cirrhosis of unknown cause . In several studies the number of MCs correlated with the severity of fibrosis …”

Significance of chymase‐dependent angiotensin II formation in the progression of human liver fibrosis

“…Chymase is a chymotrypsin‐like serine protease that is present in the secretory granules of mast cells; in human tissues, this enzyme, like ACE, cleaves angiotensin I to form angiotensin II 13,14 . Chymase‐positive cells have been reported to be coexpressed in fibrotic liver regions 4,15 . However, ACE‐positive cells present in blood vessels have been observed in cirrhotic livers, but the ACE mRNA levels found in cirrhotic and normal livers are not different 4 .…”