Pathological significance of intranuclear structures in liver biopsy samples

IF 3.4 3区医学 Q1 GASTROENTEROLOGY & HEPATOLOGY

Hepatology Research Pub Date : 2025-05-10 DOI:10.1111/hepr.14195

Norihiro Imai, Yuki Ohsaki, Jinglei Cheng, Hanna Kawecka, Jingjing Zhang, Fumitaka Mizuno, Taku Tanaka, Shinya Yokoyama, Kenta Yamamoto, Takanori Ito, Yoji Ishizu, Takashi Honda, Tetsuya Ishikawa, Michał Woźniak, Hiroaki Wake, Hiroki Kawashima

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Abstract

Aim

Glycogenated nuclei (GN) are glycogen deposits within the nuclei and are a frequent pathological finding in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between GN and two morphologically distinct types of intranuclear lipid droplets in liver biopsy specimens and to explore their respective pathological significance.

Methods

We analyzed 135 liver biopsy specimens. A portion of the liver biopsy specimen was examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to investigate intranuclear lipid droplets in hepatocytes. Nuclear inclusion bodies with clear boundaries and unstained areas on hematoxylin and eosin staining were identified as nuclear glycogen.

Results

TEM revealed nucleoplasmic lipid droplets (nLD) in 65% of liver biopsy specimens and invagination of cytoplasmic lipid droplets into the nucleus in 30% of specimens. In contrast, light microscopy detected GN in 82% of specimens. No significant correlations were observed between the frequencies of the two types of intranuclear lipid droplets and nuclear glycogen levels. A significant positive correlation was observed between the frequency of nLD and transaminase levels. Glycogenated nuclei were frequently observed in liver biopsy specimens from patients with MASLD; however, their frequency did not significantly correlate with the degree of hepatic steatosis. Instead, a significant positive correlation was observed between nuclear glycogen and blood HbA1c levels.

Conclusions

The two types of intranuclear lipid droplets and nuclear glycogen observed in liver biopsy specimens showed no significant correlation in their formation frequencies, suggesting that they possess distinct pathological significance.

Abstract Image

查看原文本刊更多论文

肝活检标本核内结构的病理意义。

目的：糖原核（GN）是糖原沉积在细胞核内，是代谢功能障碍相关脂肪变性肝病的常见病理发现。本研究旨在探讨肝活检标本中两种形态不同的核内脂滴与GN的关系，并探讨其各自的病理意义。方法：对135例肝活检标本进行分析。部分肝活检标本采用透射电子显微镜（TEM）观察肝细胞核内脂滴。苏木精和伊红染色边界清晰、未染色的核包涵体为核糖原。结果：透射电镜显示65%的肝活检标本中有核质脂滴（nLD）， 30%的标本中有胞质脂滴内陷到细胞核中。相比之下，光学显微镜在82%的标本中检测到GN。两种核内脂滴的频率和核糖原水平之间没有明显的相关性。nLD的发生频率与转氨酶水平呈显著正相关。在MASLD患者的肝活检标本中经常观察到糖原核；然而，它们的频率与肝脂肪变性的程度没有显著相关性。相反，在核糖原和血HbA1c水平之间观察到显著的正相关。结论：肝活检标本中观察到的两种核内脂滴和核糖原的形成频率无显著相关性，具有明显的病理意义。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Hepatology Research 医学-胃肠肝病学

CiteScore

8.30

自引率

14.30%

发文量

124

审稿时长

1 months

期刊介绍： Hepatology Research (formerly International Hepatology Communications) is the official journal of the Japan Society of Hepatology, and publishes original articles, reviews and short comunications dealing with hepatology. Reviews or mini-reviews are especially welcomed from those areas within hepatology undergoing rapid changes. Short communications should contain concise definitive information.