Myofibroblasts in schistosomal portal fibrosis of man
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
; 94(1): 87-93, Jan.-Feb. 1999. ilus
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-225936
Responsible library:
BR15.1
RESUMO
Myofibroblasts, cells with intermediate features between smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts, have been described as an important cellular component of schistosomal portal fibrosis. The origin, distribution and fate of myofibroblats were investigated by means of light, fluorescent, immunoenzymatic and ultrastrutural techniques in wedge liver biopsies from 68 patients with the hepatosplenic form of schistosomiasis. Results demonstrated that the presence of myofibroblasts varied considerably from case to case and was always related to smooth muscle cell dispersion, which occurred around medium-sized damaged portal vein branches. By sequential observation of several cases, it was evident that myofibroblasts derived by differentiation of vascular smooth muscle and gradually tended to disappear, some of them further differentiating into fibroblasts. Thus, in schistosomal pipestem fibrosis myofibroblasts appear as transient cells, focally accumulated around damaged portal vein branches, and do not seem to have by themselves any important participation in the pathogenesis of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Health context:
Neglected Diseases
Health problem:
Helminthiasis
/
Neglected Diseases
/
Schistosomiasis
/
Zoonoses
Database:
LILACS
Main subject:
Schistosomiasis
/
Fibroblasts
/
Liver Cirrhosis
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
Journal subject:
Tropical Medicine
/
Parasitology
Year:
1999
Document type:
Article