Author/Authors :
franchitto, antonio university of rome “sapienza” - department of anatomical, histological, forensic medicine and orthopedic sciences, Rome, italy , franchitto, antonio eleonora lorillard spencer-cenci foundation, Rome, Italy , onori, paolo university of l’aquila - department of biotechnological and applied clinical sciences, L’Aquila, Italy , renzi, anastasia university of rome “sapienza” - department of anatomical, histological, forensic medicine and orthopedic sciences, Rome, Italy , carpino, guido university of rome “foro italico” - department of health science, Italy , mancinelli, romina university of rome “sapienza” - department of anatomical, histological, forensic medicine and orthopedic sciences, Rome, Italy , alvaro, domenico university of rome “sapienza” - department of medico-surgical sciences and biotechnologies, polo pontino, sapienza, Rome, Italy , alvaro, domenico eleonora lorillard spencer-cenci foundation, Rome, Italy , gaudio, eugenio university of rome “sapienza” - department of anatomical, histological, forensic medicine and orthopedic sciences, Rome, Italy
Abstract :
Hepatic stem/progenitor cells (HPCs) are stem cells residing in the most peripheral branchesof the biliary tree; these cells are able to differentiate towards mature hepatocyte or mature cholangiocyte;moreover in normal conditions, they are mostly quiescent cells. HPC activation has been involved inthe progression of chronic parenchymal diseases (chronic viral hepatitis) and chronic biliary diseases(such as Primary Biliary Cirrhosis: PBC) and in the occurrence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. TheHPCs participate in the repair of liver damage either through the replacement of dead cells or by drivingfundamental repair processes, including fibrosis and angiogenesis. Little information exists regarding theexpression of VEGF by HPC in the course of liver non-malignant pathologies. In this study, we evaluated:(I) the presence of HPCs in PBC and HCV-related Cirrhosis (HCV-C) samples, and (II) the expression of VEGFsand VEGF-Rs in PBC and HCV-C samples. Our results showed (I) PBC samples presented a more extensiveexpansion of HPC population in comparison with those of HCV-C samples; (II) PBC samples showeda more extensive angiogenesis if compared to HCV-C; and (III) PBC samples were characterized by anincreased expression of VEGF-A and VEGF-C if compared to HCV-C and the number of HPCs expressingVEGFs was correlated with the extension of ductular reaction and angiogenesis. The role of VEGFs in theexpansion of HPC niche could have important implication in the management of fibrogenic processes andcarcinogenesis.
