Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
3
pubmed:dateCreated
2008-3-4
pubmed:abstractText
Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is characterized by the highly selective autoimmune injury of small intrahepatic bile ducts, despite widespread distribution of mitochondrial autoantigens. On this basis, it has been suggested that the targeted biliary epithelial cells (BECs) play an active role in the perpetuation of autoimmunity by attracting immune cells via chemokine secretion. To address this issue, we challenged BECs from patients with PBC and controls using multiple Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands as well as autologous liver-infiltrating mononuclear cells (LMNCs) with subsequent measurement of BEC phenotype and chemokine production and LMNC chemotaxis by quantifying specific chemokines. Our data reflect that BECs from PBC patients and controls express similar levels of TLR subtypes, CD40, and human leukocyte antigen DRalpha (HLA-DRalpha) and produce equivalent amounts of chemokines in our experimental conditions. Interestingly, however, BEC-expressed chemokines elicit enhanced transmigration of PBC LMNCs compared with controls. Furthermore, the addition of autologous LMNCs to PBC BECs led to the production of higher levels of chemokines and enhanced the expression of CD40 and HLA-DRalpha. CONCLUSION: We submit that the proinflammatory activity of BECs in PBC is secondary to the intervention of LMNCs and is not determined per se. These data support the hypothesis that BECs are in fact "innocent victims" of autoimmune injury and that the adaptive immune response is critical in PBC.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Mar
pubmed:issn
1527-3350
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Electronic
pubmed:volume
47
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
958-65
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2008
pubmed:articleTitle
Biliary epithelial cells and primary biliary cirrhosis: the role of liver-infiltrating mononuclear cells.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. sshimoda@intmed1.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural