A Review of the Physiological and Immunological Functions of Biliary Epithelial Cells: Targets for Primary Biliary Cirrhosis, Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis and Drug-induced Ductopenias
Our understanding of biliary epithelial cells (BEC) in physiobiology and immunology has steadily expanded. BEC transports IgA as well as IgM into bile, synthesizes and secretes various chemokines, cytokines, and expresses adhesion molecules involved in cell intera...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2004-01-01
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| Series: | Clinical and Developmental Immunology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17402520400004177 |
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| Summary: | Our understanding of biliary epithelial cells (BEC) in physiobiology and
immunology has steadily expanded. BEC transports IgA as well as IgM into bile,
synthesizes and secretes various chemokines, cytokines, and expresses adhesion
molecules involved in cell interaction and signal transduction. These then suggest
a myriad of potential roles for BEC in defense from invading microorganisms as well
as the pathogenesis of diverse immunologically driven diseases such as primary
biliary cirrhosis (PBC), graft-versus-host disease, and primary sclerosing cholangitis
(PSC). Despite the progress, there still remain many areas of BEC biology that
require further investigation. Most importantly, it remains to be clarified that the
extent to which the immunologic activities observed in BEC represent a BEC
response to tissue injury or whether BEC themselves are the active participants
in the pathogenesis of various cholestatic immunological diseases, including PBC
and PSC. |
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| ISSN: | 1740-2522 1740-2530 |