THE ROLE OF THE ITO CELL IN PERIVENULAR AND INTRALOBULAR FIBROSIS IN ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS

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  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 107  (9) , 459-463
Abstract
The role of the Ito cells in perivenular and intralobular scarring in human alcoholic liver disease was examined morphologically. There was a substantial decrease in the number of Ito cells in the midzone of the hepatic lobule in both fatty liver and alcoholic hepatitis as judged by light microscopy. By EM, however, an increase in activated Ito cells or a few fibroblasts were found in small foci of fibrosis in association with inflammation and hepatocellular degenerative changes in most cases of alcoholic hepatitis. Cytoplasmic protrusions of activated Ito cells extended to the hepatocytes undergoing in degenerative changes including Mallory body formation. There was an apparent transition from Ito cells to activated Ito cells and to fibroblasts. Ito cells may play a role in perivenular and intralobular fibrosis in alcoholic hepatitis.