Intracellular accumulation of incompletely processed transforming growth factor-alpha polypeptides in ground glass hepatocytes of chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Abstract Background: Transforming growth factor-alpha is an intracellularly processed and secreted polypeptide that induces a proliferative response in epithelial target cells and represents a potential regulatory factor in embryonic development, liver regeneration, and also hepatocarcinogenesis. We have observed focal transforming growth factor-alpha expression in liver tissues with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Methods: To further elucidate the nature of this focal transforming growth factor-alpha accumulation were have analyzed overall 23 different liver tissues with chronic hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection as well as normal liver tissues by immunohistology, ELISA…