만성 (慢性) 활동성 (活動性) 간염에서 (肝炎) 근섬유아세포의 (筋纖維芽細胞) 동태 (動態)

This study has been carried out to investigate the behavior and histologic origin of myofibroblasts, which are able to be found in the liver tissue of chronic active hepatitis. The biopsied liver tissues of patient were examined under the light and electron microscopes and studied through the immunohistochemical method. Through light microscopic examination, the cases were devided into four mild ones, eight moderate ones and four severe ones. On immunohistochemical study, all mild cases show negative findings to antibody to antiactin and positive findings were demonstrated in all moderate and severe ones. On electron microscopic study, myofibroblasts were found in each three cases of moderate and severe ones and they exhibit intermediate forms between smooth muscle cells and myofibroblasts having the hundles of microfilaments, wrinkled nuclei and basement membrane. Most of them are located in nearby areas of portal veins and in the periphery of these areas, proliferation of Ito cells and transformation of them into similar forms of myofibroblasts were noted. These findings suggest that the myofibroblasts are noted in the moderate and more severe cases of chrrniic active hepatitis showing marked fibrosis and they contribute to the fibrosis of portal areas. Besides, it is presumed that myofibroblasts of chronic active hepatitis are originated from Ito cells.