[Nature and origin of hepatocellular hyaline, Mallory bodies]

The current concepts on the nature and origin of alcohol hyaline are analysed. The latter is a sign of acute alcoholic hepatitis and reflects the severity of destructive and inflammatory processes in the organ; it is based on the protein-polysaccharide-phospholipid complex which has three ultrastructural varieties. The pathogenesis of alcohol hyaline is complex. In addition to the metabolic and toxic effect of ethanol, it includes the following stages: (1) inhibition of dissemination of intermediate filaments synthesized by rough reticulum; (2) accumulation of filaments in cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and formation of fibrillar hyaline; (3) transformation of the fibrillar hyaline into granular one; (4) hepatocyte necrosis. Alcoholic hyaline as an autoantigen induces antibody production followed by the involvement of the immunopathological mechanisms.