Journal of Nippon Medical School: Vol.70 No.6 page.490

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ArticleTitle Increased Chymase in Livers with Autoimmune Disease: Colocalization with Fibrosis

AuthorList Katsuaki Satomura¹, Mingshi Yin¹, Shuzi Shimizu¹, Yoshihito Kato¹, Takamichi Nagano¹, Hirokazu Komeichi¹, Masaru Ohsuga¹, Yasumi Katsuta¹, Takumi Aramaki¹ and Yasukazu Omoto²

Affiliation ¹First Department of Internal Medicine, Nippon Medical School
²Biologic Research Institute, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Language EN

Volume 70

Issue 6

Year 2003

Page 490-495

Received February 17, 2003

Accepted July 8, 2003

Keywords chymase, mast cells, hepatic fibrosis, immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Abstract Chymase, one of the proteases contained in human mast cells, promotes myocardial and renal interstitial fibrosis by converting angiotensin I to II (AII). We previously established a method for measuring chymase in liver tissue and examined the relationship between chymase and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis. In the present study, chymase was determined in liver specimens affected by autoimmune hepatitis (AIH, n=10) or primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC, n=12). To investigate spatial relationships between hepatic fibrosis and human chymase, mast cell distribution in the specimens was determined immunohistochemically using anti-chymase antibody. The mean amounts of chymase in livers with AIH and PBC were 11.56±10.64 and 11.67±9.96 ng/mg respectively. Hepatic chymase in AIH and PBC was significantly more abundant than in acute hepatitis (AH, 2.72±2.23 ng/mg, n=10; p<0.05). When sections from patients with AIH and PBC were immunostained for chymase, immunoreactive mast cells were detected in portal areas and sinusoidal walls, coinciding with zones of fibrosis. Thus chymase appears to be involved in hepatic fibrosis in AIH and PBC.

Correspondence to Katsuaki Satomura, MD, First Department of Internal Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Sendagi, 1-1-5, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan
satomura@nms.ac.jp

ArticleTitle	Increased Chymase in Livers with Autoimmune Disease: Colocalization with Fibrosis
AuthorList	Katsuaki Satomura¹, Mingshi Yin¹, Shuzi Shimizu¹, Yoshihito Kato¹, Takamichi Nagano¹, Hirokazu Komeichi¹, Masaru Ohsuga¹, Yasumi Katsuta¹, Takumi Aramaki¹ and Yasukazu Omoto²
Affiliation	¹First Department of Internal Medicine, Nippon Medical School ²Biologic Research Institute, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Language	EN
Volume	70
Issue	6
Year	2003
Page	490-495
Received	February 17, 2003
Accepted	July 8, 2003
Keywords	chymase, mast cells, hepatic fibrosis, immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
Abstract	Chymase, one of the proteases contained in human mast cells, promotes myocardial and renal interstitial fibrosis by converting angiotensin I to II (AII). We previously established a method for measuring chymase in liver tissue and examined the relationship between chymase and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis. In the present study, chymase was determined in liver specimens affected by autoimmune hepatitis (AIH, n=10) or primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC, n=12). To investigate spatial relationships between hepatic fibrosis and human chymase, mast cell distribution in the specimens was determined immunohistochemically using anti-chymase antibody. The mean amounts of chymase in livers with AIH and PBC were 11.56±10.64 and 11.67±9.96 ng/mg respectively. Hepatic chymase in AIH and PBC was significantly more abundant than in acute hepatitis (AH, 2.72±2.23 ng/mg, n=10; p<0.05). When sections from patients with AIH and PBC were immunostained for chymase, immunoreactive mast cells were detected in portal areas and sinusoidal walls, coinciding with zones of fibrosis. Thus chymase appears to be involved in hepatic fibrosis in AIH and PBC.
Correspondence to	Katsuaki Satomura, MD, First Department of Internal Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Sendagi, 1-1-5, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan satomura@nms.ac.jp