Identification of mitochondria in liver biopsies : A study by immunohistochemistry, immunogold and Western blot analysis

Hepatocytes are rich in mitochondria, which play an important role in hepatic metabolism. In certain pathologic conditions (most often alcoholic liver disease) mitochondria became enlarged; nevertheless, even in these conditions they are hardly detectable on light microscopy. Recently an antimitocho...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Virchows Archiv : an international journal of pathology 1998-09, Vol.433 (3), p.267-273
Main Authors: FOSCHINI, M. P, MACCHIA, S, LOSI, L, DEI TOS, A. P, PASQUINELLI, G, DI TOMMASO, L, DEL DUCA, S, RONCAROLI, F, DAL MONTE, P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Antibodies, Monoclonal
Biological and medical sciences
Biopsy
Blotting, Western
Female
Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Liver Diseases - pathology
Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas
Male
Medical sciences
Microscopy, Immunoelectron
Middle Aged
Mitochondria, Liver - immunology
Mitochondria, Liver - pathology
Other diseases. Semiology
Proteins - immunology
Sensitivity and Specificity
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Summary:Hepatocytes are rich in mitochondria, which play an important role in hepatic metabolism. In certain pathologic conditions (most often alcoholic liver disease) mitochondria became enlarged; nevertheless, even in these conditions they are hardly detectable on light microscopy. Recently an antimitochondrial antibody (mAM), which recognizes a 60-kDa protein, has been characterized. The purpose of the present study was to study immunoreactivity of this antibody in a series of liver biopsies. We studied 146 liver biopsies using an mAM. In 8 cases an ultrastructural study was also done, and in 2 cases Western blot analysis was performed. Cases were divided as follows: alcoholic liver disease (ALD, 31); steatosis (8); nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH, 1); hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related hepatitis (83); hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatitis (6); primary biliary cirrhosis (1); sclerosing cholangitis (1); haemosiderosis (1); sarcoidosis (1); alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (1); nonspecific findings (12). All the patients were investigated for alcohol or drug abuse, pharmacological treatment, hyperlipidaemia, hypercholesterolaemia and diabetes. Immunoreactivity was diffuse in cases of ALD, NASH and steatosis, and in patients with drug abuse. Electron microscopic immunogold and Western blot analysis confirmed that in the conditions examined the protein recognized by the mAM showed greater expression. Immunohistochemical staining was helpful in demonstrating a toxic or a metabolic insult even in cases in which the histological picture was blurred by viral infection.
ISSN:0945-6317
1432-2307
DOI:10.1007/s004280050246