Immunohistochemical and immunoelectron microscopic analyses of alpha-amylase isozymes in human intrahepatic biliary epithelium and hepatocytes.

The expression and localization of the pancreatic and salivary isozymes of alpha-amylase in the intrahepatic biliary epithelium and hepatocytes were examined by the immunohistochemical method with polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies in 45 normal autopsied human livers. Immunoelectron microscopic studies with the protein A-gold method were performed with the monoclonal antibodies (MAb) on seven of the livers. The intrahepatic biliary system was divided into large ducts, septal ducts, interlobular ducts, bile ductules, and peribiliary glands. Immunohistochemically, pancreatic isozyme was observed in the supranuclear cytoplasm of the epithelium of large ducts, septal ducts, and peribiliary glands in almost all livers. Interlobular ducts expressed pancreatic isozyme in only four (9%) livers. Bile ductules and hepatocytes were negative for pancreatic isozyme in all cases. Expression of salivary isozyme was observed in the supranuclear cytoplasm of the epithelium of large ducts, septal ducts, interlobular ducts, bile ductules, and peribiliary glands in almost all livers, although the expression in interlobular ducts and bile ductules was weak. Hepatocytes were weakly positive for salivary isozyme. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that both pancreatic and salivary isozymes were located in the supranuclear cytoplasm of the epithelium of large ducts, septal ducts, and peribiliary glands, and that hepatocytes had no pancreatic isozyme but contained salivary isozyme. These data suggest that pancreatic and salivary isozymes of alpha-amylase are produced by the intrahepatic biliary epithelium and secreted into intrahepatic biliary lumens, and that they may play an important role in the physiology of the intrahepatic biliary tree and hepatic bile. It is also suggested that hepatocytes produce a small amount of salivary alpha-amylase that may be secreted into the biliary tree.