Increased liver mast cell recruitment in patients with chronic C virus‐related hepatitis and histologically documented steatosis

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is still one of the major causes of chronic viral infection worldwide, and hepatic steatosis is a frequent pathological finding in patients with chronic HCV-related diseases. It is unclear whether the steatosis is associated with host factors or the virus itself, although a consistent relationship has been found between steatosis and a necro-inflammatory reaction with the increased secretion of immuno-regulators. A primary sources of inflammatory mediators are mast cells (MCs) bone marrow-derived cells that are detected in both normal and diseased livers. We determined MC density and correlated it with the fibrosis, inflammatory reaction and steatosis observed in the liver biopsies of patients affected by HCV with or without steatosis. All the histological features were assessed using a computer-aided image analysis system. There was a statistically significant difference in MC density between the HCV-infected patients with and without steatosis, with the lower mean value being detected in those without (P < 0.02). Furthermore, a nonstatistically significant difference in fibrosis and inflammation between the two patient groups was found. In conclusion, this is the first study showing a significant increase in MC density in the tissues of patients with chronic HCV infection and histologically documented steatosis.

Decrease of Pericytes is Associated With Liver Disease Caused by Ligature‐Induced Periodontitis in Rats

“…There was no difference in DMCs between periodontitis and control groups. This is in contrast to a previous study that observed an increase in DMCs in hepatic steatosis 13 . Induced periodontal disease in the current model was also not associated with any alterations in body weights and liver function.…”

“…Hepatic biology has shown the importance of mast cells that are increased in chronic C virus-related hepatitis. 13 In addition, pericytes associated with portal vessels may be niches of cells with a high potential for cell differentiation, as has been demonstrated recently. 14 Moreover, regarding liver disease, in previous years, studies 8,9 have demonstrated an association with periodontitis.…”

“…To evaluate liver disease, histologic analysis is the golden standard, which allows the detection of minimal changes in hepatic structure. Hepatic biology has shown the importance of mast cells that are increased in chronic C virus‐related hepatitis 13 . In addition, pericytes associated with portal vessels may be niches of cells with a high potential for cell differentiation, as has been demonstrated recently 14 …”

Adverse outcome pathway development from protein alkylation to liver fibrosis

“…The complement system, as an innate immune mechanism of host defence, plays a role in fibrogenesis via the complement factor 5 (C5) (Hillebrandt et al 2005), whose depletion in mice leads to impaired liver regeneration (Mastellos et al 2001). Innate lymphoid cells (nuocytes), neutrophils, and mast cells are additional cell types that might play a role in fibrogenesis (Franceschini et al 2007; Harty et al 2010; Liang et al 2013), even though the results are not always conclusive (Saito et al 2003; Sugihara et al 1999; Xu et al 2004). Importantly, since the majority of findings discussed here comes from rodent models, additional research is needed to attribute these functions to human counterparts.…”

Mast cell deficiency attenuates progression of atherosclerosis and hepatic steatosis in apolipoprotein E-null mice

“…Mast cells are present in normal livers, and their numbers are increased in fatty liver disease (13,14,26). In agreement with these finding, ApoE Ϫ/Ϫ /Kit W-sh/W-sh presented with significantly reduced hepatic steatosis during the first 3 mo of the high-fat regimen.…”