THE COMMON PATTERN OF CYTOKERATIN ALTERATION IN ALCOHOLIC AND CHOLESTATIC LIVER-DISEASE IS DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF HEPATITIC LIVER-DAMAGE - A STUDY WITH THE PANEPITHELIAL MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY LU-5

The patterns of cytokeratin as determined by murine monoclonal antiker atin antibody lu-5 (mAb lu-5) were quantitated in paraffin-embedded li ver tissue from normal and diseased subjects. In tissue from healthy m edical students, mAb lu-5 was found to decorate 2-4 periportal and 2-3 perivenular cell layers. Alcoholic liver disease was accompanied by a marked increase in intensity of mAb lu-5 antigen expression in zone I and III hepatocytes. Moreover, additional liver cells of both zones w ere progressively recruited, so that in advanced lesions all three lob ular zones became positive. In mechanical as well as in drug-induced c holestasis, a similar increase of mAb lu-5 antigen expression was alre ady observed in earlier stages of disease, including an earlier recrui tment of zone II hepatocytes. In both alcoholic and cholestatic biopsi es the intensity and extent of mAb lu-5 epitope expression increased w ith the duration and severity of disease. In primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and seemingly also in primary sclerosing cholangitis the increa se and extent was more marked in zone I, the zone of assumed cholate a ccumulation. Changes in zone III, the territory of histologic cholesta sis (bilirubinostasis), became evident only in late stages of PBC. Mal lory bodies of alcoholic and cholestatic liver disease showed an ident ical mAB lu-5 antigen expression, thus giving rise to four different s taining patterns. Changes of cytokeratin expression are similar in alc oholic and cholestatic liver diseases. In chronic viral hepatitis, how ever, cytokeratin alterations are discrete and restricted to precirrho tic/cirrhotic stages.