Regulation of Epithelial Injury and Bile Duct Obstruction by NLRP3 and IL-1R1 in Experimental Biliary Atresia

Biliary atresia (BA) results from a rapidly progressing inflammation and obstruction of extrahepatic bile ducts (EHBDs) in early infancy and is the most common indication for pediatric liver transplantation [1 –3]. The etiology of BA includes environmental triggers in the genetically susceptible host [4,5], followed by an over-activation of the neonatal immune response in the liver and EHBD [6,7]. We and others previously reported several cellular (dendritic cells [DCs], natural killer [NK] cells and CD 8+ T cells) and molecular (IL-8, IL-15, IFN-γ, TNFα) effectors of bile duct epithelial injury [8–16].
Source: Journal of Hepatology - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Source Type: research