Summary
Lymphocytes and plasma cells have been demonstrated in the peripheral zones of lobules in liver biopsies from patients suffering from chronic aggressive hepatitis. In the region of contact between lymphocytes and parenchymal cells, the cell membranes are frequently not demonstrable so that an impression is created of cytoplasmic fusion. However, when the goniometer is used, the cell membranes in this region can still be demonstrated at a certain tilt angle. It can therefore be concluded that the presumed cytoplasmic fusions are frequently the result of superposition effects in projection.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blackburne, W. R., Miller, J. F. A. P.: Electronmicroscopic studies on thymus graft regeneration and rejection. Lab. Invest. 18, 771–781 (1968).
Brandes, D., Anton, E., Orbegoso, C. M.: Hashimotos thyreoiditis. Ultrastructure and histochemistry of the cellular infiltrate. John Hopk. med. J. 124, 221–223 (1969).
Doniach, D.: Autoimmune aspects of liver disease. Brit. med. Bull. 28, 145–148 (1972).
Gelzayd, E. A., Kirsner, J. B.: Immunologic aspects of chronic active hepatitis in young people. Amer. J. med. Sci. 253, 98–109 (1967).
Good, R. A., Page, A. R.: Fatal complications of virus hepatitis in two patients with a gamma globulinemia. Amer. J. Med. 29, 804–810 (1960).
Irvine, W. J., Muir, A. R.: An electron microscopic study of hashimoto thyreoiditis. Quart. J. exp. Physiol. 48, 13–26 (1963).
Klion, M., Schaffner, F.: Ultrastructural aspects of canine hepatic transplant rejection. Exp. molec. Path. 6, 361–369 (1967).
Kountz, S. L., Williams, M. A., Kapros, C., Dempster, W. J.: Mechanism of rejection of homotransplanted kidneys. Nature (Lond.) 199, 257–260 (1963).
Miller, J., Smith, M. G. M., Mitchell, Ch. G., Reed, W. D., Eddleston, A. L. W. F., Williams, R.: Cell mediated immunity to a human liver specific antigen in patients with active chronic hepatitis and primary biliary cirrhosis. Lancet 1972II, 296–297.
Neve, P.: The ultrastructure of thyroid in chronic autoimmune thyreoiditis. Virchows Arch. Abt. A 346, 302–317 (1969).
Orcel, L., Antoine, H. M., Smadja, A.: Pathological findings in viral hepatitis. Amer. J. Dis. Child. 123, 291–299 (1972).
Otto, H. F., Martin, W.: Zur cytologischen Ultrastruktur des Schleimhautstroma bei Enteropathien, insbesondere bei der idiopathischen Steatorrhoe. Virchows Arch. Abt. A 353, 191–206 (1971).
Otto, H. F., Walke, A.: Über lympho-epitheliale Beziehungen bei Enteropathien. Virchows Arch. Abt. A 355, 85–98 (1972).
Paronetto, F.: Immunologic aspects of liver diseases. In: Progress in liver disease, eds.: H. Popper, F. Schaffner, p. 299–318. New York-London: Grune & Stratton 1970.
Paronetto, F., Popper, H.: Hetero- iso- and autoimmune phenomena in the liver. In: Textbook of immunopathology, eds.: P. A. Miescher, H. J. Müller-Eberhard, p. 562–583. New York-London: Grune & Stratton 1969.
Paronetto, F., Rubin, E., Popper, H.: Local formation of gamma globulin in the diseased liver and its relation to hepatic necrosis. Lab. Invest. 11, 150–158 (1962).
Pisi, E., Cavalli, G.: Aspects ultrastructuraux au cours de l'hepatite chronique “agressive”. In: Advance Abstracts. 4th world congress of gastroenterology, Copenhagen 1970, p. 123, eds.: P. Riis, P. Anthonisen, H. Baden. Copenhagen: The Danish Gastroenterological Association 1970.
Popper, H., Schaffner, F.: Nonsuppurative destructive chronic cholangitis and chronic hepatitis. In: Progress in liver disease, p. 336–354, eds.: H. Popper, F. Schaffner. New York-London: Grune & Stratton 1970.
Porter, K. A., Joseph, N. H., Kendall, J. M., Stollinsky, C., Hoehn, R. J., Calne, R. Y.: The role of lymphocytes in the rejection of canine renal homotransplants. Lab. Invest. 13, 1080–1091 (1964).
Rosenau, W., Lee, J. C., Najarian, J. S.: A light-, fluorescence-, and electron-microscopic study of functioning human transplants. Surg. Gynec. Obstet. 128, 62–76 (1969).
Roessner, A., Lie, T. S., Schulz, D., v. Bassewitz, D. B., Themann, H.: Zur Feinstruktur der orthotoptransplantierten, allogenen Hundeleber. Virchows Arch. Abt. B 9, 354–370 (1971).
Schaffner, F., Barka, T., Popper, H.: Hepatic mesenchymal reaction in liver disease. Exp. molec. Path. 2, 419–441 (1963).
Soborg, M., Bendixen, G.: Human lymphocyte migration as a parameter of hypersensitivity. Acta med. scand. 181, 247–256 (1967).
Tobias, H., Safran, A. P., Schaffner, F.: Lymphocyte stimulation and chronic liver disease. Lancet 1967I, 193–194.
Warnatz, H.: Das Phänomen der Lymphocytentransformation in der Pathogenese und Diagnostik von Autoimmunerkrankungen. Z. exp. Med. 149, 64–90 (1969).
Wiener, J.: Ultrastructural aspects of delayed hypersensitivity. Curr. Top. Path. 52, 143–208 (1970).
Wiener, J., Lattes, R. G., Pearl, J. S.: An electron microscopic study of the homograft rejection. Amer. J. Path. 44, 319–347 (1964).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Dedicated to Prof. Dr. W. Giese on the occasion of Dec. 18th 1972.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
v. Bassewitz, D.B., Roessner, A., Nauta, R. et al. Cytoplasmic fusions between liver parenchymal cells and infiltrating cells in chronic aggressive hepatitis. Virchows Arch. Abt. A Path. Anat. 359, 309–313 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00548602
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00548602