Liver-directed gene therapy results in long term correction of progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 3 in mice

Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 3 (PFIC3) is an autosomal-recessive liver disorder that presents with cholestasis at young age and progresses to cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease before adulthood [1 –3]. PFIC3 is caused by impairment of phosphatidylcholine (PC) translocation to bile by the canalicular membrane protein ATP Binding Cassette subfamily B member 4 (ABCB4), formerly known as multidrug resistance protein 3 (MDR3), encoded by the ABCB4 gene [4–6]. In bile, PC is essential in the fo rmation of mixed micelles with bile salts that protect the lining of the biliary tree from their detergent properties.
Source: Journal of Hepatology - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Source Type: research