Although almost all of HPCs within DRs of mild hepatitis co-expressed CK7 and E-cadherin (n = 1.77 ± 0.83 per cm2 and n = 1.42 ± 0.76 per cm2, respectively), a few of HPCs displayed neither of them (Fig. 2b, g). This evidence concerns the gene KRT7 and hepatitis A virus infection.