Alpha-SMA as a mesenchymal marker in Chronic Hepatitis C infection

ABSTRACT

Background: Liver biopsy so far, is the mainstay of diagnosing hepatic fibrosis. Activated HSCs express certain mesenchymal markers, of which Smooth Muscle Actin is a well-known marker. This study aims to appreciate expression of Alpha Smooth Muscle Actin in hepatic stellate cells of CHC cases and to find out the frequency of alpha-SMA positive HSCs in perisinusoidal, periportal and pericentral regions of liver