Demonstration of albumin receptors on isolated human hepatocytes by light and scanning electron microscopy.

The presence of albumin receptors on the plasma membrane of isolated human hepatocytes was investigated employing albumin-coupled latex minibeads. Hepatocyte-latex reaction was visualized by phase contrast and scanning electron microscopy. The experiments demonstrate that hepatocytes exhibit binding activity for polymeric and monomeric forms of glutaraldehyde-treated albumin. Additionally, the reaction was shown to be species-nonspecific. These findings support the hypothesis that polymerized albumin may act as a bridge between receptors on hepatitis B virus and human hepatocytes.