ABSTRACT
Stem cell factor [SCF] is an important signal transduction factor implicated in survival, proliferation and differentiation of stem cells. It is produced by fibroblasts, liver cells, sertoli cells, bone marrow stromal cells and spleen cells. Chronic liver disease is a serious health problem in children. Theses chronic liver diseases include chronic viral hepatitis and congenital hepatic fibrosis. In the present study, serum SCF level has been studied in 30 patients with chronic liver diseases; 10 patients with congenital hepatic fibrosis, 20 patients with chronic viral hepatitis to uncover any role SCF in liver fibrosis. Increased serum level of SCF was observed in patients with chronic liver diseases when compared with the control group. This increase is also significant when comparing each group alone with the control group. SCF was significantly more increased in patients with chronic viral hepatitis when compared with congenital hepatic fibrosis. This increased SCF was negatively correlated with hemoglobin concentration, red blood corpuscular count, platelet count and serum albumin level and positively correlated with abnormal liver function tests suggesting the strong relation between SCF and degree of liver damage and degree of liver fibrosis occurring in chronic liver disease. This elevated SCF can be explained by proliferation and increase of stellate cells in liver fibrosis, which is established source of SCF. Increased level of SCF may be the cause of mast cell recruitment, proliferation and release of fibrinogenic factors, which are involved in pathogenesis of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis