Priester S, Wise C, Glaser SS. Involvement of cholangiocyte proliferation in biliary fibrosis. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol 2010; 1(2): 30-37 [PMID: 21607140 DOI: 10.4291/wjgp.v1.i2.30]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Shannon S Glaser, PhD, Assistant Professor, Texas A&M Health Science Center, 702 SW H.K. Dodgen Loop, Temple, TX 76504, United States. sglaser@tamu.edu
Article-Type of This Article
Topic Highlight
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World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. Jun 15, 2010; 1(2): 30-37 Published online Jun 15, 2010. doi: 10.4291/wjgp.v1.i2.30
Involvement of cholangiocyte proliferation in biliary fibrosis
Sally Priester, Candace Wise, Shannon S Glaser
Sally Priester, Candace Wise, Shannon S Glaser, Department of Medicine, Scott and White and Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, MRB, 702 SW H.K. Dodgen Loop, Temple, TX 76504, United States
Sally Priester, Division of Research and Education, Scott and White and Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, MRB, 702 SW H.K. Dodgen Loop, Temple, TX 76504, United States
Shannon S Glaser, Digestive Disease Research Center, Scott and White and Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, MRB, 702 SW H.K. Dodgen Loop, Temple, TX 76504, United States
Author contributions: Priester S and Wise C contributed equally to the writing of this manuscript and share first authorship; and Glaser S wrote portions and reviewed the manuscript.
Supported by the Grant Awarded to Dr. Glaser from Scott and White Hospital and by a NIH RO1 Grant, No. DK081442
Correspondence to: Shannon S Glaser, PhD, Assistant Professor, Texas A&M Health Science Center, 702 SW H.K. Dodgen Loop, Temple, TX 76504, United States. sglaser@tamu.edu
Telephone: +1-254-7427058 Fax: +1-254-7245944
Received: March 10, 2010 Revised: May 28, 2010 Accepted: June 4, 2010 Published online: June 15, 2010
Abstract
Cholangiocytes are the epithelial cells that line the biliary tree. In the adult liver, they are a mitotically dormant cell population, unless ductular reaction is triggered by injury. The ability of cholangiocytes to proliferate is important in many different human pathological liver conditions that target this cell type, which are termed cholangiopathies (i.e. primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis and biliary atresia). In our article, we provide background information on the morphological and functional heterogeneity of cholangiocytes, summarize what is currently known about their proliferative processes, and briefly describe the diseases that target these cells. In addition, we address recent findings that suggest cholangiocyte involvement in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transformation and liver fibrosis, and propose directions for future studies.
