Cholangiocarcinogenesis Following Oval Cell Induction and Clonorchis sinensis Infestation in Hamster

햄스터 oval cell의 간흡충감염 후 담관암으로의 분화에 관한 세포병리학적 연구

Oval cell is considered as facultative precursor cells for both hepatocytes and biliary cells, as well as origin of hepatocellar and cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCC) during carcinogenesis or toxic liver injury. To clarify the cellular origin or differentiation of cholagiocarcinogensis, the fate of carcinogen-induced oval cells was pathologically and phenotypically chased in Syrian golden hamster liver after Clonorchis sinensis (CS) infection which would give rise to a promoting effect. Two week treatment of hamsters with 0.005% diethylnitrosamine (DEN) followed by 2 week treatment of 1% 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) under choline deficient diet resulted in massive proliferation of BrdU labeleed and PCNA positive oval cells showing various distinct morphology, histochemical and immunohistochemical phenotypes for GGT, cytokeratin 19 and OV-6. Oval cells also frequently form ductular-like structures or phenotypically show hepatocyte-like characteristics. After CS infection, the oval cells showed sequential morphological changes to atypicl proliferating bile ductules and all hamsters thereafter developed well differentiated and anaplastic CCC at 16 week after CS infection. In electron microscopy, some bile ductules were constructed by intermediate oval cells and bile ductular cells surrounded by basement membrane. The results of this study strongly suggest that CCC developed in the present study were originated from hepatic stem-like oval cells, supporting the theory of stem cell origin of cancers. In addition, this hamster model would be valuable for the molecular mechanistic study during chemical-triggered cholangiocarcinogenesis.