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. 2004 Jan;19(1):91-8.
doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2004.03255.x.

Hepatic stellate cells in hepatitis C patients: relationship with liver iron deposits and severity of liver disease

Ana L C Martinelli  1 , Leandra N Z Ramalho, Sergio Zucoloto
Affiliations

Hepatic stellate cells in hepatitis C patients: relationship with liver iron deposits and severity of liver disease

Ana L C Martinelli et al. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2004 Jan.

Abstract

Background and aim: To determine the relationship between hepatic stellate cell (HSC) populations and severity of liver disease and liver iron deposits in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). We also studied the relationship between iron cellular distribution and HSC population and the role of HFE mutations in the determination of iron deposits.

Methods: Forty-nine chronic HCV patients with varying degrees of liver damage and liver iron deposits were studied. A liver biopsy was scored for histology activity index (HAI), fibrosis and iron deposits. The number of HSC in the liver was evaluated by an immunohistochemical double-staining method to identify glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) and smooth muscle alpha-actin (alpha-SMA).

Results: The HSC population was significantly higher in HCV patients than in normal controls and was predominant in zones 1 and 3. Liver iron deposits were observed in 49% of patients and were mild/moderate in most cases. We found a significantly higher number of GFAP and alpha-SMA positive cells in patients with liver iron deposits compared with those without iron deposits, and a positive correlation between liver iron scores and number (%) of GFAP and alpha-SMA positive cells. We observed a significantly higher number of GFAP and alpha-SMA positive cells in moderate/severe hepatitis than in minimal/mild hepatitis, and a positive correlation between GFAP and alpha-SMA positive cells and HAI and fibrosis scores.

Conclusions: Liver iron deposits in chronic HCV are common and are associated with activation of HSC. Thus, even mild iron deposits might stimulate HSC and contribute to liver damage.

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