Number of portal tract macrophages correlates with the modified hepatic activity index in chronic hepatitis C infection

Portal, but not lobular, macrophages express matrix metalloproteinase‐9: association with the ductular reaction and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C

“…Despite increasing interest in the role of the innate immune response in chronic HCV, information about liver macrophage location and heterogeneity in human liver disease remains very limited. Earlier studies showed an increase in the density of portal tract CD68 + cells in chronic HCV and an increase in the number of MAC387 + cells (reported to be a marker for a subset of infiltrating activated macrophages), which were located primarily at the periphery of inflamed portal tracts . Our study demonstrates a marked increase in the total number of portal tract macrophages with increasing stages of hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic HCV, supporting a role for these cells in progressive liver injury.…”