Background: The expression and the distribution of fibrillin-1 and elastin
were studied in normal and pathological human liver samples.
Methods: As controls, histologically normal/subnormal liver samples (n = 24
) were used. Pathological samples corresponded to seven cirrhosis and eight
hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) developed on cirrhotic (four) or non-cirrh
otic (four) liver.
Results: In normal liver, fibrillin-1 and elastin co-localized in vessel wa
lls and portal tract connective tissue. Fibrillin-1 alone was detected alon
g sinusoids and in portal spaces at the interface with the limiting hepatoc
ytic plates and close to the basement membrane of bile ducts. By transmissi
on electron microscopy, typical bundles of microfibrils were detected both
in Disse space and in portal zones, Cirrhotic nodules were usually rich in
fibrillin-1 along sinusoids; fibrillin-1 and elastin were co-localized in f
ibrotic septa surrounding nodules. In HCC, fibrillin-1 was present between
tumoral hepatocytes; stromal reaction around the tumors contained both fibr
illin-1 and elastin.
Conclusions: Fibrillin-1 was associated with elastin in portal mesenchyme a
nd vessel walls of normal liver, in fibrotic septa around cirrhotic nodules
and stromal reaction around HCC, but was expressed alone in the perisinuso
idal space. The functional roles for fibrillin-1 in non-elastic tissues, su
ch as the liver, remain to be elucidated. (C) 2001 European Association for
the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights rese
rved.