雷公藤甲素诱导小鼠急性肝损伤的形态学研究

目的:观察雷公藤甲素诱导小鼠急性肝损伤的形态学特征,为进一步研究雷公藤甲素肝毒性的病理特点和毒理机制提供基础。方法:昆明种小鼠以雷公藤甲素LD50剂量(0.8 mg/kg)水溶液灌胃,分别于给药12 h及24 h后取肝组织,制备石蜡切片、冰冻切片,行常规HE染色、PCNA染色、TUNEL染色及光镜观察。部分肝组织经戊二醛固定、制备超薄切片,行透射电镜下观察。PCNA及TUNEL染色结果采用图像分析软件进行定量分析及统计学处理。结果:0.8 mg/kg雷公藤甲素灌胃后12 h即可诱导肝组织炎细胞浸润、结构破坏、肝细胞坏死及代偿性增生。透射电镜下可见肝细胞内细胞骨架结构异常、细胞器大量脱落、自噬体明显增多。PCNA及TUNEL染色结果表明,雷公藤甲素可诱导肝细胞出现显著的增殖及凋亡。结论:雷公藤甲素可诱导肝组织炎性反应发生,同时伴随肝细胞凋亡、坏死及代偿性增生。推测肝细胞自噬性凋亡是雷公藤甲素诱导急性肝损伤的关键病理环节。     

胎肝中肝干细胞的免疫组织化学研究

目的采用免疫组织化学方法显示不同时期人胚胎肝脏的干细胞,分析肝干细胞的形态与分布特点及发育过程中干细胞在肝脏中的迁徙,探讨肝脏的发生发育及肝内干细胞的来源。方法不同发育时期胎儿肝脏,取材、固定、制成石蜡切片,ABC法检测肝干细胞特异性的表面标记物CD34、CK19、C-11和OV6。结果胎肝内汇管区周边界板处有卵圆样细胞表达CD34、C-11、CK19和OV6,阳性细胞紧密排列成管,呈鞘样包绕着早期汇管区,部分包绕着初级汇管区,随着次级汇管区的成熟,卵圆样干细胞逐渐局限于赫令氏管周围;此外,胚胎发育的不同阶段均可见CD34、OV6阳性的单核样细胞分散在肝索、肝血窦之内,多见于汇管区的问充质组织之内,肝血管内鲜见。结论胚胎发育早期汇管区周边界板处含有丰富的干细胞,可能是肝脏发育的起点,这些干细胞逐渐分化为胆管上皮样细胞,然后分化为肝细胞和胆管上皮细胞;造血干细胞是肝内的另一干细胞来源,造血干细胞在肝内受到诱导作用分化为小部分的肝实质细胞。     

人肝刺激因子对大鼠实验性慢性肝损伤的保护作用

从健康孕妇水囊引产４─６个月龄的胎儿取肝,采用ＬａＢｒｅｃｑｕｅ方法提取人肝刺激因子（ｈＨＳＳ）。经３Ｈ－胸腺嘧啶核苷参入肝ＤＮＡ法测定其生物活性。表明此ｈＨＳＳ可刺激肝细胞ＤＮＡ合成。采用皮下注射ＣＣｌ４和饮用１０％乙醇来制备慢性肝损伤动物模型,观察了ｈＨＳＳ的保护肝脏作用。结果表明：ｈＨＳＳ可使ＣＣｌ４－乙醇所致慢性肝损伤大鼠的死亡率、血清谷丙转氨酶水平、肝组织中羟脯氨酸含量的升高以及肝组织中丙二醛的含量降低。肝组织切片表明：ｈＨＳＳ能减轻肝组织的损伤程度,促进肝细胞再生,并能明显防止肝纤维化的形成和发展。可见,ｈＨＳＳ对ＣＣｌ４－乙醇所致的慢性肝损伤大鼠有明显的保护作用,其机制可能与促进肝细胞再生及抑制肝细胞膜的脂质过氧化有关。     

薄芝糖肽对D-GalN所致大鼠急性肝衰竭的影响

目的:探讨薄芝糖肽对组织损伤的保护作用.方法:Wister大鼠腹腔注射D-GalN(D-氨基半乳糖)诱发急性肝衰竭(ALF).48h后存活的大鼠随机分成4组,分别尾静脉注射不同剂量薄芝糖肽注射液或等量生理盐水,连续2w.观测动物存活率、血清谷丙转氨酶(ALT)以及肝组织学检查.结果:薄芝糖肽注射液3个剂量治疗组大鼠的存活率分别为42.1%、57.9%和63.2%,生理盐水对照组的存活率为21.1%,实验组与对照组的存活率相差显著(p＜0.05).治疗组大鼠ALT水平在给药第2d即明显下降,第7d基本恢复正常;对照组直到实验结束才恢复正常.4组动物病理切片显示,注射D-GalN后肝细胞大量坏死,呈现ALF状态.第15d高剂量治疗组基本恢复正常,但对照组仍见散在肝细胞坏死灶及,汇管区炎性细胞浸润.结论: 薄芝糖肽注射液可明显提高ALF大鼠存活率,改善肝功能.提示薄芝糖肽注射液可用于临床救治急性肝功能衰竭或重症肝炎.     

老龄大鼠自发性肝胆管增生的病理学研究

目的为相关科研及新药安全评价工作积累大鼠肝胆管增生有价值的研究资料。方法大鼠共分为3组,第1组雌雄各30只动物(进口SD大鼠);第2组雌雄各60只(国产SD大鼠);第3组雌雄各60只(国产Wistar大鼠)。实验末期,对所有实验动物进行安乐死,进行系统解剖,对肝进行制片,进行组织病理学检查和免疫组织化学研究。结果各组大鼠均发生了不同程度的肝汇管区胆管增生,总发病率是32.33%。其中国产SD大鼠发病率明显高于进口SD大鼠(26.67%∶1.67%);国产Wistar大鼠的发生率明显高于国产SD大鼠(53.33%∶26.67%);雄性动物的发病率明显高于雌性动物(20%∶12.33%)。病理学观察显示多样化的胆管增生和纤维化改变,病变在I级和II级的大鼠发病率是84.5%,III级病变的发病率仅占15.5%。卵圆细胞的增生与胆管增生病变情况相一致,并呈现向胆管上皮方向分化。结论不同种系、不同性别的大鼠间肝胆管增生的发生率存在差异。本研究结果为动物和人类在增龄情况下肝胆管增生的研究提供了参考资料。     

应用原位杂交及免疫组化检测肝活检组织中流行性出血热病毒RNA及抗原

本文应用原位杂交及免疫组化技术对25例流行性出血热(EHF)患者肝活检组织进行了病毒RNA及其囊膜G_2蛋白的定位检测,结合光镜,认为肝细胞的变性、胞浆疏松化、点状坏死是EHF病毒直接侵犯并在其胞浆内增殖表达所致,肝组织的灶状坏死则主要是肝窦狭窄、枯否氏细胞增生导致微循环障碍引起的缺血性梗死。急性脂褐素沉积是病毒侵犯肝细胞的间接证据。研究还发现,肝细胞内病毒的多少与病程关系不明确,而与临床分型有一定相关,为探讨EHF的发病机制提供了分子水平的依据。     

利用人脐血单个核细胞重建急性肝损伤小鼠肝组织的实验研究

利用人脐血单个核细胞重建急性肝损伤小鼠肝组织,探索建立人-小鼠嵌合肝模型方法。15只SCID小鼠,以四氯化碳(CCL4)制备急性肝损伤模型,24h后行2/3肝切除,然后分为三个实验组细胞移植组(7只)、阴性对照组(3只)及空白对照组(5只);将人脐血单个核细胞悬液注入细胞移植组小鼠脾脏内,阴性对照组小鼠脾脏内注入等量磷酸盐缓冲液(PBS),空白对照组不注射细胞悬液和PBS。术后7d、14d及21d取小鼠肝组织观察病理变化、检测人白蛋白(ALB)及细胞角蛋白19(CK19),同时检测小鼠血清及肝组织匀浆中人ALB含量。全部小鼠表现出急性肝损伤组织学特征;细胞移植组小鼠术后7d、14d、21d肝组织内均见大量人ALB及CK19阳性表达细胞,血清及肝组织匀浆可检测出人ALB;阴性对照组小鼠肝组织未见人ALB及CK19阳性表达,血清及肝组织匀浆中未检测出人ALB。人脐血单个核细胞在部分肝切除的急性肝损伤小鼠肝组织内可大量分化为人肝细胞及胆管细胞,在建立模型方面已取得关键突破。     

三种大鼠肝损伤模型中细胞角蛋白异常表达及其机制──免疫组化及免疫电镜研究

本研究应用ＡＢＣ免疫组化技术显示,奶油黄、液氮致局部冻伤及ＣＣｌ＿４所致的三种肝损伤中也有细胞角蛋白（ＣＫ）异常表达肝细胞。（１）在局部肝冻伤及奶油黄性肝损伤中表明不伴脂肪变性的肝细胞坏死不能直接引起肝细胞ＣＫ表达的改变;（２）在奶油黄性肝损伤中显示了卵圆细胞对肝细胞ＣＫ异常表达的诱导作用,表明层粘连蛋白（ＬＮ）可能是这种作用的媒介;（３）在ＣＣｌ＿４致慢性肝损伤中表明肝细胞ＣＫ异常表达和ＬＮ异常沉积无论在位相上还是在时相上都一致,提出肝小叶结构破坏可能也是通过ＬＮ异常沉积而影响肝细胞的ＣＫ表达;（４）应用电镜及免疫电镜技术表明ＣＣｌ＿４性肝损伤中肝细胞中间丝细胞骨架结构的改变伴随着ＣＫ１９阳性抗原决定簇的出现;（５）设计了一种局部肝冻伤模型,利用这种模型表明,ＣＫ１９阳性肝细胞在肝小叶结构完整性遭到破坏且伴纤维组织增生时出现,随小叶结构的恢复而消失。这是对关于肝细胞ＣＫ异常表达是肝小叶结构修复过程中局部肝细胞的修复性反应这一假说的有力支持。讨论了这种改变的意义。     

胚胎干细胞向肝实质细胞体外定向诱导分化过程中的肝卵圆细胞

如果肝脏严重受损致使肝细胞大部分坏死,或由于某些原因 ( 肝毒性物质、致癌物质的作用 ) 抑制残存肝细胞增殖时,肝内前体／干细胞———肝卵圆细胞便被激活并分化生成肝细胞和胆管细胞等以参与肝修复 . 基于此理论,人们建立了啮齿类动物肝卵圆细胞诱导实验模型 . 但显然上述模型不适用于人类,所以有必要开发一种适用于人类的、高效的肝卵圆细胞的新诱导模型 . 选用小鼠胚胎干细胞,转成拟胚体分化 3 天后分组,诱导组添加肝细胞生长因子 (HGF) 、表皮生长因子 (EGF) 作定向诱导分化 . 其间用免疫细胞化学 (ICC) 检测肝卵圆细胞标志物 A6 等的表达,用流式细胞仪筛选肝卵圆细胞并行 RT-PCR 、透射电镜检测 . 所筛选的肝卵圆细胞进一步体外培养并进行 ICC 和 RT-PCR ,检测其分化生成成熟的肝细胞和胆管细胞的能力 . 研究证实胚胎干细胞体外定向诱导生成肝实质细胞的过程中,存在着有双向分化能力的肝卵圆细胞这个中间分化阶段 . 诱导组肝卵圆细胞分化率均显著地高于对照组,最高时可达 6.11% 左右 . HGF 和 EGF 能显著性诱导胚胎干细胞源性卵圆细胞的生成 . 流式细胞仪筛选 Sca-1+/CD34+ 细胞占总细胞数的 4.59% ,其中 A6 阳性肝卵圆细胞占 90.81% 左右 . 使用流式细胞仪可获得高富集的 A6+/Sca-1+/CD34+ 肝卵圆细胞 . 提供了一种可适用于人类的肝卵圆细胞的新诱导模型 .     

构建启动大鼠肝组织中TGF-β/Smad信号传导通路的急性肝损伤动物模型

目的在传统CCl4急性肝损伤模型的基础上,构建启动大鼠肝组织中的TGF-β/Smad信号传导通路的急性肝损伤动物模型。方法将30只大鼠随机分为3组,每组各10只,分别为模型组,对照组和空白组,模型组大鼠予小动脉夹夹闭肝总动脉15min手术处理,随后分别在第6天和第10天,予25%CCl4花生油溶液6mL/kg体重腹腔注射;对照组则单用两次CCl4,空白组不做任何处理;第二次CCl448h后处死所有动物。结果模型组与对照组及空白组比较：血清指标ALT、AST、HA显著上升（P〈0.01）;肝组织HE染色病理观测,肝组织出现明显炎症、变性、坏死,纤维组织增生等现象;PT-PCR检测Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原、TGF-β1、Smad3mRNA表达显著增强（P〈0.01）;免疫组化检测Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原、TGF-β1、Smad3蛋白的表达增强（P〈0.01）。结论成功启动急性肝损伤大鼠肝组织中的TGF-β/Smad信号传导路,该急性肝损伤动物模型兼备肝纤维化活跃,和TGF-β/Smad信号传导通路信号增强特征,在评价早期抗肝纤维化药物及方法时具有耗时少、有效和经济的特点,值得进一步研究。     

Expression and localization of regenerating gene I in a rat liver regeneration model

Regenerating gene (Reg) I has been identified as a regenerative/proliferative factor for pancreatic islet cells. We examined Reg I expression in the regenerating liver of a rat model that had been administered 2-acetylaminofluorene and treated with 70% partial hepatectomy (2-AAF/PH model), where hepatocyte and cholangiocyte proliferation was suppressed and the hepatic stem cells and/or hepatic progenitor cells were activated. In a detailed time course study of activation of hepatic stem cells in the 2-AAF/PH model, utilizing immunofluorescence staining with antibodies of Reg I and other cell-type-specific markers, we found that Reg I-expressing cells are present in the bile ductules and increased during regeneration. Reg I-expressing cells were colocalized with CK19, OV6, and AFP. These results demonstrate that Reg I is significantly upregulated in the liver of the 2-AAF/PH rat model, accompanied by the formation of bile ductules during liver regeneration.     

Restoration of hepatic mast cells and expression of a different mast cell protease phenotype in regenerating rat liver after 70%-hepatectomy

Mast cells (MC) can undergo significant changes in number and phenotype; these alterations result in the differential expression of growth factors and cytokines. Kit ligand (KL; stem cell factor) is produced by mesenchymal cells, and in the liver by biliary epithelial cells. Recent studies suggest that KL, and its receptor c-kit, may be involved in liver regeneration after loss of liver mass. However, KL is also the major growth, differentiating, chemotactic, and activating factor for MC. The aim of our study was to elucidate the dynamics and phenotype of hepatic MC and KL/c-kit expression during liver regeneration after partial (70%) hepatectomy in the rat. Regenerating livers were harvested after 1, 3, 7, and 14 days, respectively (n = 6 each day). MC were stained for naphthol-AS/D-chloroacetate esterase and counted as MC per bile ductule. MC phenotype was assessed by rat MC protease (RMCP)-1 and -2 immunofluorescence staining, in order to distinguish RMCP-1 positive connective tissue MC (CTMC) from RMCP-2 positive mucosa MC (MMC). mRNA expression of RMCP, c-kit, and the differentially spliced variants of KL was quantified by RT-PCR. MC counts per bile ductule decreased in regenerating rat liver tissue at day 3, compared with native livers, and became normal thereafter. Hepatic MC were predominantly of a CTMC phenotype expressing RMCP-1, as previously published; after hepatectomy, between 76 and 99% of all MC double-expressed RMCP-1 and -2, compatible with an MMC phenotype. The ratio of the two alternatively spliced mRNAs for KL (KL-1 : KL-2), and c-kit mRNA expression did not differ significantly between regenerating livers and the livers of sham operated animals. These results suggest that hepatic mast cells are restored during liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in the rat. Restored MC express an MMC phenotype, suggesting migration from outside into the regenerating liver. Alternative splicing of KL is affected by the surgical procedure in general, and, together with its receptor c-kit, doesn't seem to be involved in liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in the rat. Further functional studies, and studies in regenerating human livers might offer the possibility of elucidating the role of the hepatic mast cell, and its different protease phenotypes during liver regeneration after surgical loss of liver mass.     

肝淋巴水肿的超微结构及实验治疗研究

４２只新西兰兔,随机分为正常对照组、手术组与治疗组,后两组行胸导管结扎术,治疗组术后腹腔注射苯毗哺酮,并做血清生化指标检查及光、电镜观察。手术组动物光镜下淋巴管、微静脉肿胀扩张,内皮细胞可见溶解破坏,Ｄｉｓｓｅ间隙扩张,出现淋巴管—静脉—胆管瘘;肝细胞肿胀,核缩小减少。电镜下,淋巴管、静脉及微胆管内皮细胞明显缺损,线粒体空泡化,间质组织纤维化。血清化验显示ＧＯＴ、ＧＧＴ升高,而总蛋白降低,尤以白蛋白降低明显。而治疗组动物光镜及电镜下结构病理变化轻微,但淋巴管内皮细胞开放连接明显增加;血清生化指标与正常对照组无明显区别,但血中ＷＢＣ和嗜酸性粒细胞数量增加。电镜下,枯否氏细胞增加,并有活跃的伪足,表明苯吡喃酮可刺激体内巨噬细胞的生长,增加机体免疫能力。     

Activation, isolation, identification and culture of hepatic stem cells from porcine liver tissues

Objectives: Utility of hepatic stem cells could provide a novel solution to the severe shortage of human donor livers, for treatment of liver‐related diseases, due to their ability to proliferate and differentiate into functional hepatocytes. Porcine liver tissues also offer an alternative source from human donor livers. However, morphology, phenotype, successful isolation and culture of porcine hepatic stem cells still require much investigation. Materials and methods: In the present study, we performed partial hepatectomy to activate hepatic oval cells and developed a procedure utilizing enzymatic digestion and density gradient centrifugation to isolate and purify oval cells derived from porcine livers. We identified ovoid cells by their morphological characteristics and phenotypic properties, thereby providing definitive evidence for the presence of hepatic stem cells in porcine livers. Moreover, we established a culture system, using various growth factors, to provide nourishment for these cells. Results and conclusions: By transmission electron microscopy, oval‐shaped cells with ovoid nuclei, a high nucleus/cytoplasm ratio and few organelles were demonstrated. Flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry showed that freshly isolated oval cells expressed albumin, cytokeratin 19, alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and OV6 at high levels. Immunofluorescence revealed that porcine hepatic oval cells after culture expressed stem‐cell factor, c‐kit, Thy‐1, CK19, OV6, and AFP. Taken together, this study provides a novel insight into morphological and phenotypic characteristics of porcine hepatic stem cells. Our ability for isolation and culturing porcine hepatic stem cells offers an abundant source of cells for transplantation and tissue engineering to help alleviate liver disease.     

Active participation of apoptosis and mitosis in sublingual gland regeneration of the rat following release from duct ligation

Summary This study was designed to establish how mitotic cell proliferation and apoptotic cell death participate in the regeneration of atrophied rat sublingual glands. To induce atrophy to the sublingual gland of rats, the excretory duct was ligated unilaterally near the hilum, and after 1 week of ligation (day 0) the duct ligation was released to enable gland regeneration. The regenerating glands were examined with routine histology, immunohistochemistry for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) as a marker of proliferating cells, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end labeling (TUNEL) as a marker of apoptotic cells, and transmission electron microscopy. At day 0, a few acini and many ducts remained in the atrophic sublingual glands, and newly formed immature acini were observed at day 3. Thereafter acinar cells progressively matured and increased in number, although the number of ducts decreased. Many PCNA- and some TUNEL-positive cells were seen in acini and ducts during regeneration. The labeling indices for both cell types were statistically significantly different from that of the control at several time points of the regeneration. Apoptotic and mitotic cells were also confirmed to be present in the experimental sublingual glands by electron microscopy. These observations suggest that apoptosis as well as mitosis of duct and acinar cells actively participate in and play important roles in sublingual gland regeneration.     

Thy-1 is an in vivo and in vitro marker of liver myofibroblasts

Thy-1, a glycophosphatidylinositol-linked glycoprotein of the outer membrane leaflet, has been described in myofibroblasts of several organs. Previous studies have shown that, in fetal liver, Thy-1 is expressed in a subpopulation of ductular/progenitor cells. The aim of this study has been to investigate whether the liver myofibroblasts belong to the Thy-1-positive subpopulation of the adult liver. The expression of Thy-1 has been studied in normal rat liver, in the rat liver regeneration model following 2-acetylaminofluorene treatment and partial hepatectomy (AAF/PH), and in isolated rat liver cells, at the mRNA and protein levels. In normal rat liver, Thy-1 is detected in sparse cells of the periportal area, whereas 7 days after PH in the AAF/PH model, a marked increase of the number of Thy-1-positive cells is detectable by immunohistochemistry. Comparative immunohistochemical analysis has revealed the co-localization of Thy-1 and smooth muscle actin, but not of Thy-1 and cytokeratin-19, both in normal rat liver and in the AAF/PH model. Investigation of isolated rat liver cell populations has confirmed that liver myofibroblasts are Thy-1-positive cells, whereas hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells, and liver macrophages are not. Thy-1 is the first cell surface marker for identifying liver myofibroblasts in vivo and in vitro. Jozsef Dudas and Tümen Mansuroglu contributed equally to this study. This work was supported by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 402, projects C6, D3, D4).     

Distribution of glucose-6-phosphatase activity in normal,hyperplastic, and preneoplastic rat liver

The significance of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6P) expression by bile duct-like cells proliferating during hepatocarcinogenesis in the histogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma is not clear. To this end, we measured the histochemical and biochemical activity of G6P in normal rat liver, and in rat livers in which bile duct-like proliferation was induced by either hyperplastic (bile duct ligation for 14 days or feeding alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate for 28 days) or neoplastic (feeding a choline-devoid diet containing 0.1% ethionine for 60 days) regimens. In normal, hyperplastic, and preneoplastic livers, G6P histochemical activity was confined to the hepatocytes; proliferated bile duct-like cells, like normal bile ducts, did not display visible G6P staining. When the enzyme activity was determined biochemically, however, hydrolysis of glucose-6-phosphate was observed in both parenchymal and nonparenchymal liver cells isolated from all experimental animals. In elutriated nonparenchymal fractions, G6P activity was directly proportional to the number of cells positive for gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and cytokeratin no. 19 (markers of bile duct cells) and inversely proportional to the number of cells positive for vimentin (marker of mesenchymal cells). These results indicate that, while by light microscopy hepatic G6P histochemical activity is detectable only in the hepatocytes, the biochemical activity is also expressed in proliferating bile duct-like cells. However, the nonparenchymal activity is observed during both neoplastic and hyperplastic liver growth, thus indicating that the presence of this enzyme in bile duct-like cells proliferating during hepatocarcinogenesis should not necessarily be construed as supporting their stem cell nature nor their neoplastic commitment.     

Distribution of glucose-6-phosphatase activity in normal, hyperplastic, and preneoplastic rat liver.

The significance of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6P) expression by bile duct-like cells proliferating during hepatocarcinogenesis in the histogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma is not clear. To this end, we measured the histochemical and biochemical activity of G6P in normal rat liver, and in rat livers in which bile duct-like proliferation was induced by either hyperplastic (bile duct ligation for 14 days or feeding alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate for 28 days) or neoplastic (feeding a choline-devoid diet containing 0.1% ethionine for 60 days) regimens. In normal, hyperplastic, and preneoplastic livers, G6P histochemical activity was confined to the hepatocytes; proliferated bile duct-like cells, like normal bile ducts, did not display visible G6P staining. When the enzyme activity was determined biochemically, however, hydrolysis of glucose-6-phosphate was observed in both parenchymal and nonparenchymal liver cells isolated from all experimental animals. In elutriated nonparenchymal fractions, G6P activity was directly proportional to the number of cells positive for gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and cytokeratin no. 19 (markers of bile duct cells) and inversely proportional to the number of cells positive for vimentin (marker of mesenchymal cells). These results indicate that, while by light microscopy hepatic G6P histochemical activity is detectable only in the hepatocytes, the biochemical activity is also expressed in proliferating bile duct-like cells. However, the nonparenchymal activity is observed during both neoplastic and hyperplastic liver growth, thus indicating that the presence of this enzyme in bile duct-like cells proliferating during hepatocarcinogenesis should not necessarily be construed as supporting their stem cell nature nor their neoplastic commitment.