Abstract
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic, progressive hepatobiliary disorder characterized by extensive fibrosis and stricturing of the intra- and/or extra-hepatic bile ducts: Previous studies have documented low phosphatylcholine (PC) concentrations in PSC bile. The aim of this study was to determine whether low PC levels in bile facilitate toxic bile acid induced injury of biliary tract epithelial cells resulting in enhanced transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) expression and increased collagen synthesis by myofibroblasts. TGF-β mRNA expression was documented in bile duct epithelial cells exposed to varying concentrations of the toxic bile acid; glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA)±PC. In these experiments, as well as in co-culture experiments where bile duct epithelial cells were cultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells and myofibroblasts, TGF-β mRNA expression remained unaltered in the presence or absence of PC. Moreover, collagen type Iα1 mRNA expression by myofibroblasts also remained unaltered. The results of this study do not support the hypothesis that PC deficiency contributes to toxic bile acid-induced bile duct injury and/or myofibroblast activation.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
