Hepatic stellate cells and fibrogenesis in hepatitis C virus infection: an ultrastructural insight.

An ultrastructural quantitative assessment of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) was made in relation to hepatic fibrosis, apoptotic cellular changes, intracellular fat deposition, circulating inflammatory cells in the sinusoids, and the necroinflammatory activity in liver specimens of 33 patients proven to be positive for hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA by polymerase chain reaction with the intention that electron microscopy may throw more light on the role of HSCs in the complicated process of fibrogenesis. A detailed review concerning these parameters and observed evidence suggesting the potential properties of HSCs to recycle cellular debris into collagen fibers are reported.