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World J Gastroenterol. Jun 14, 2014; 20(22): 7067-7074
Published online Jun 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i22.7067
Published online Jun 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i22.7067
Expression of alpha smooth muscle actin in living donor liver transplant recipients
Masataka Hirabaru, Kyoko Mochizuki, Mitsuhisa Takatsuki, Akihiko Soyama, Taiichiro Kosaka, Tamotsu Kuroki, Susumu Eguchi, Department of Surgery, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki 852-8501, Japan
Isao Shimokawa, Department of Investigative Pathology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki 852-8501, Japan
Author contributions: Hirabaru M and Eguchi S contributed equally to this work; Hirabaru M, Mochizuki K and Eguchi S designed the study; Hirabaru M, Eguchi S, Mochizuki K, Takatsuki M, Soyama A, Kosaka T, Kuroki T, Shimokawa I and Eguchi S performed the study and analyzed the data; and Hirabaru M and Eguchi S wrote the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Susumu Eguchi, MD, PhD, Department of Surgery, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical sciences, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8501, Japan. sueguchi@nagasaki-u.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-95-8197316 Fax: +81-95-8197319
Received: October 22, 2013
Revised: December 31, 2013
Accepted: February 26, 2014
Published online: June 14, 2014
Revised: December 31, 2013
Accepted: February 26, 2014
Published online: June 14, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: The primary finding presented in this case report is that there is that the cessation of immunosuppressant therapy may promote liver fibrosis in patients after liver transplantation, even though normal liver function is maintained. In addition, the alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)-positive area increased during the pre-fibrotic stage. Therefore, α-SMA may serve as a useful marker to detect early stage fibrosis.