Alpha 1-antitrypsin and hepatic fibrosis.

The administration of alpha 1-antitrypsin, both sialo and asialo types, to rats with chronic liver injury accelerated hepatic fibrosis. More fibrosis was seen histologically and the amount of hydroxyproline in the liver increased. Moreover, the growth of HEL cells (human embryonal lung fibroblast) in culture was promoted by alpha 1-antitrypsin though the action of the asialo type was very weak by contrast with the sialo type.