Hepatocyte proliferation and cell cycle phase fractions in chronic viral hepatitis C by image analysis method

Objective Chronic hepatitis is characterized by necrosis of liver cells, ac companied by an inflammatory reaction and compensatory cell proliferation. The interaction of the core and non-structural proteins of hepatitis C viru s (HCV) with several cellular factors suggests that cell proliferation may be influenced by HCV. The aim of this study was to investigate hepatocyte p roliferation and DNA ploidy patterns in patients with chronic viral hepatit is C (CH-C) compared with chronic non-viral hepatitis (CH-N), using a TV im age analysis method. Methods The DNA index (DI) and cell phase fractions (G(1), S, G(2)) were me asured by means of digital picture analysis method on nuclear suspensions o f Feulgen stained hepatocytes. Cells were taken from the liver biopsy speci mens of 71 patients with CH-C and 24 patients with CH-N. Twenty-six normal liver samples were used as controls. Results Significantly higher G(1) (94 +/- 4) and lower S (3.56 +/- 3.16) ph ase fractions were measured in CH-C compared with CH-N (G(1), 90 +/- 6; S, 6.4 +/- 5.99). The DI of moderate (1.12 rt +/- 05) and severe (1.12 +/- 0.0 5) CH-C showed near-aneuploid DNA content, while Conclusion The higher G(1) and lower S cell cycle phase fractions in CH-C r eflect decreased hepatocyte proliferation compared with CH-N. The near-aneu ploid DNA content of the HCV-infected liver samples may be a sign of increa sed genetic instability, which may contribute to the carcinogenic potential of HCV.