Biliary expression of heat shock protein: a non-specific feature of chronic cholestatic liver diseases.

Journal article

AIM: To analyse the expression of heat shock protein (HSP) 60 in biliary epithelium in auto-immune liver conditions and also in chronic cholestatic and other liver diseases. METHODS: Hepatic expression of HSP-60 in frozen liver biopsy specimens from patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), auto-immune hepatitis (AIH), obstructive jaundice (LDO), alcoholic liver disease (ALD), and from normal controls was studied by immunohistochemistry using the APAAP technique and confocal laser scanning microscopy. RESULTS: Increased expression of HSP-60 was demonstrated in the biliary epithelium of patients with PBC, LDO and, to a lesser extent, with PSC. Focal, weaker, biliary epithelial expression of HSP-60 was observed in AIH, ALD and normal liver tissue. Increased expression was also seen on Kupffer cells in LDO and in hepatocytes in areas of piecemeal necrosis in AIH. CONCLUSION: Enhanced biliary expression of HSP-60 is a common feature of chronic biliary disease irrespective of aetiology and is not specific to auto-immune diseases.

Authors: Martins, E; Chapman, R; Marron, K; Fleming, K

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Journal of clinical pathology
• Volume: 49
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 53-56
• Publication date: 1996-01-01
• DOI: 10.1136/jcp.49.1.53
• EISSN: 1472-4146
• ISSN: 0021-9746
• Language: English
• Keywords: Cholangitis, Sclerosing; Autoimmune Diseases; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary; Chronic Disease; Chaperonin 60; Bile Ducts; Biliary Tract Diseases; Microscopy, Confocal; Cholestasis; Humans; Liver Diseases; Immunoenzyme Techniques