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Grama A, Mititelu A, Sîrbe C, Benţa G, Pop TL. Immune-mediated cholangiopathies in children: the need to better understand the pathophysiology for finding the future possible treatment targets. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1206025. [PMID: 37928553 PMCID: PMC10623351 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1206025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholangiopathies are defined as focal or extensive damage of the bile ducts. According to the pathogenetic mechanism, it may be immune-mediated or due to genetic, infectious, toxic, vascular, and obstructive causes. Their chronic evolution is characterized by inflammation, obstruction of bile flow, cholangiocyte proliferation, and progression toward fibrosis and cirrhosis. Immune-mediated cholangiopathies comprise primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), autoimmune cholangitis and IgG4-associated cholangitis in adults and biliary atresia (BA), neonatal sclerosing cholangitis (NSC) in children. The main purpose of this narrative review was to highlight the similarities and differences among immune-mediated cholangiopathies, especially those frequent in children in which cholangiocyte senescence plays a key role (BA, NSC, and PSC). These three entities have many similarities in terms of clinical and histopathological manifestations, and the distinction between them can be hard to achieve. In BA, bile duct destruction occurs due to aggression of the biliary cells due to viral infections or toxins during the intrauterine period or immediately after birth. The consequence is the activation of the immune system leading to severe inflammation and fibrosis of the extrahepatic biliary tract, lumen stenosis, and impairment of the biliary flow. PSC is characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts, leading to secondary biliary cirrhosis. It is a multifactorial disease that occurs because of genetic predisposition [human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and non-HLA haplotypes], autoimmunity (cellular immune response, autoantibodies, association with inflammatory bowel disease), environmental factors (infections or toxic bile), and host factors (intestinal microbiota). NSC seems to be a distinct subgroup of childhood PSC that appears due to the interaction between genetic predisposition (HLA B8 and DR3) and the disruption of the immune system, validated by elevated IgG levels or specific antibodies [antinuclear antibody (ANA), anti-smooth muscle antibody (ASMA)]. Currently, the exact mechanism of immune cholangiopathy is not fully understood, and further data are required to identify individuals at high risk of developing these conditions. A better understanding of the immune mechanisms and pathophysiology of BA, NSC, and PSC will open new perspectives for future treatments and better methods of preventing severe evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Grama
- 2Pediatric Discipline, Department of Mother and Child, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- 2Pediatric Clinic and Center of Expertise in Pediatric Liver Rare Disorders, Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Alexandra Mititelu
- 2Pediatric Discipline, Department of Mother and Child, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- 2Pediatric Clinic and Center of Expertise in Pediatric Liver Rare Disorders, Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Claudia Sîrbe
- 2Pediatric Discipline, Department of Mother and Child, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- 2Pediatric Clinic and Center of Expertise in Pediatric Liver Rare Disorders, Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Gabriel Benţa
- 2Pediatric Discipline, Department of Mother and Child, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- 2Pediatric Clinic and Center of Expertise in Pediatric Liver Rare Disorders, Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Tudor Lucian Pop
- 2Pediatric Discipline, Department of Mother and Child, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- 2Pediatric Clinic and Center of Expertise in Pediatric Liver Rare Disorders, Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Cui MM, Gong YM, Pan WH, Pei HY, Bai MR, Song HL, Han XR, Wu WJ, Yu WW, Gu BL, Cai W, Zhou Y, Chu X. Contribution of ADD3 and the HLA Genes to Biliary Atresia Risk in Chinese. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14719. [PMID: 37834180 PMCID: PMC10572496 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonsyndromic biliary atresia (BA) is a rare polygenic disease, with autoimmunity, virus infection and inflammation thought to play roles in its pathogenesis. We conducted a genome-wide association study in 336 nonsyndromic BA infants and 8900 controls. Our results validated the association of rs17095355 in ADD3 with BA risk (odds ratio (OR) = 1.70, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.49-1.99; p = 4.07 × 10-11). An eQTL analysis revealed that the risk allele of rs17095355 was associated with increased expression of ADD3. Single-cell RNA-sequencing data and immunofluorescence analysis revealed that ADD3 was moderately expressed in cholangiocytes and weakly expressed in hepatocytes. Immuno-fluorescent staining showed abnormal deposition of ADD3 in the cytoplasm of BA hepatocytes. No ADD3 auto-antibody was observed in the plasma of BA infants. In the HLA gene region, no variants achieved genome-wide significance. HLA-DQB1 residue Ala57 is the most significant residue in the MHC region (OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.20-1.74; p = 1.23 × 10-4), and HLA-DQB1 was aberrantly expressed in the bile duct cells. GWAS stratified by cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgM status in 87 CMV IgM (+) BA cases versus 141 CMV IgM (-) BA cases did not yield genome-wide significant associations. These findings support the notion that common variants of ADD3 account for BA risk. The HLA genes might have a minimal role in the genetic predisposition of BA due to the weak association signal. CMV IgM (+) BA patients might not have different genetic risk factor profiles compared to CMV IgM (-) subtype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Meng Cui
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China; (M.-M.C.); (Y.-M.G.); (W.-H.P.); (W.-J.W.); (W.C.)
- Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai 200092, China; (H.-Y.P.); (M.-R.B.); (H.-L.S.); (X.-R.H.); (W.-W.Y.); (B.-L.G.)
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yi-Ming Gong
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China; (M.-M.C.); (Y.-M.G.); (W.-H.P.); (W.-J.W.); (W.C.)
| | - Wei-Hua Pan
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China; (M.-M.C.); (Y.-M.G.); (W.-H.P.); (W.-J.W.); (W.C.)
| | - Hao-Yue Pei
- Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai 200092, China; (H.-Y.P.); (M.-R.B.); (H.-L.S.); (X.-R.H.); (W.-W.Y.); (B.-L.G.)
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Mei-Rong Bai
- Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai 200092, China; (H.-Y.P.); (M.-R.B.); (H.-L.S.); (X.-R.H.); (W.-W.Y.); (B.-L.G.)
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Huan-Lei Song
- Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai 200092, China; (H.-Y.P.); (M.-R.B.); (H.-L.S.); (X.-R.H.); (W.-W.Y.); (B.-L.G.)
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xin-Ru Han
- Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai 200092, China; (H.-Y.P.); (M.-R.B.); (H.-L.S.); (X.-R.H.); (W.-W.Y.); (B.-L.G.)
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Wen-Jie Wu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China; (M.-M.C.); (Y.-M.G.); (W.-H.P.); (W.-J.W.); (W.C.)
| | - Wen-Wen Yu
- Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai 200092, China; (H.-Y.P.); (M.-R.B.); (H.-L.S.); (X.-R.H.); (W.-W.Y.); (B.-L.G.)
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Bei-Lin Gu
- Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai 200092, China; (H.-Y.P.); (M.-R.B.); (H.-L.S.); (X.-R.H.); (W.-W.Y.); (B.-L.G.)
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Wei Cai
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China; (M.-M.C.); (Y.-M.G.); (W.-H.P.); (W.-J.W.); (W.C.)
- Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai 200092, China; (H.-Y.P.); (M.-R.B.); (H.-L.S.); (X.-R.H.); (W.-W.Y.); (B.-L.G.)
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Ying Zhou
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China; (M.-M.C.); (Y.-M.G.); (W.-H.P.); (W.-J.W.); (W.C.)
| | - Xun Chu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China; (M.-M.C.); (Y.-M.G.); (W.-H.P.); (W.-J.W.); (W.C.)
- Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai 200092, China; (H.-Y.P.); (M.-R.B.); (H.-L.S.); (X.-R.H.); (W.-W.Y.); (B.-L.G.)
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai 200092, China
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Antala S, Taylor SA. Biliary Atresia in Children: Update on Disease Mechanism, Therapies, and Patient Outcomes. Clin Liver Dis 2022; 26:341-354. [PMID: 35868678 PMCID: PMC9309872 DOI: 10.1016/j.cld.2022.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Biliary atresia is a rare disease but remains the most common indication for pediatric liver transplantation as there are no effective medical therapies to slow progression after diagnosis. Variable contribution of genetic, immune, and environmental factors contributes to disease heterogeneity among patients with biliary atresia. Developing a deeper understanding of the disease mechanism will help to develop targeted medical therapies and improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Antala
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Ann and Robert H Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sarah A. Taylor
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Ann and Robert H Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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He L, Chung PHY, Lui VCH, Tang CSM, Tam PKH. Current Understanding in the Clinical Characteristics and Molecular Mechanisms in Different Subtypes of Biliary Atresia. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23094841. [PMID: 35563229 PMCID: PMC9103665 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Biliary atresia is a severe obliterative cholangiopathy in early infancy that is by far the most common cause of surgical jaundice and the most common indicator for liver transplantation in children. With the advanced knowledge gained from different clinical trials and the development of research models, a more precise clinical classification of BA (i.e., isolated BA (IBA), cystic BA (CBA), syndromic BA (SBA), and cytomegalovirus-associated BA (CMVBA)) is proposed. Different BA subtypes have similar yet distinguishable clinical manifestations. The clinical and etiological heterogeneity leads to dramatically different prognoses; hence, treatment needs to be specific. In this study, we reviewed the clinical characteristics of different BA subtypes and revealed the molecular mechanisms of their developmental contributors. We aimed to highlight the differences among these various subtypes of BA which ultimately contribute to the development of a specific management protocol for each subtype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin He
- Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China;
| | - Patrick Ho Yu Chung
- Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (V.C.H.L.); (C.S.M.T.); (P.K.H.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +852-22554850; Fax: +852-28173155
| | - Vincent Chi Hang Lui
- Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (V.C.H.L.); (C.S.M.T.); (P.K.H.T.)
| | - Clara Sze Man Tang
- Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (V.C.H.L.); (C.S.M.T.); (P.K.H.T.)
| | - Paul Kwong Hang Tam
- Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (V.C.H.L.); (C.S.M.T.); (P.K.H.T.)
- Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau SAR, China
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Anderson K, Carey B, Martin A, Roark C, Chalk C, Nowell-Bostic M, Freed B, Aubrey M, Trapnell B, Fontenot A. Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis: An autoimmune disease lacking an HLA association. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0213179. [PMID: 30845238 PMCID: PMC6405167 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare lung disease characterized by the accumulation of pulmonary surfactant in alveolar macrophages and alveoli, resulting in respiratory impairment and an increased risk of opportunistic infections. Autoimmune PAP is an autoimmune lung disease that is caused by autoantibodies directed against granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). A shared feature among many autoimmune diseases is a distinct genetic association to HLA alleles. In the present study, we HLA-typed patients with autoimmune PAP to determine if this disease had any HLA association. We analyzed amino acid and allele associations for HLA-A, B, C, DRB1, DQB1, DPB1, DRB3, DRB4 and DRB5 in 41 autoimmune PAP patients compared to 1000 ethnic-matched controls and did not find any HLA association with autoimmune PAP. Collectively, these data may suggest the absence of a genetic association to the HLA in the development of autoimmune PAP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten Anderson
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States of America
- ClinImmune Labs Aurora, CO, United States of America
- * E-mail: (KA); (AF)
| | - Brenna Carey
- Cincinatti Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | - Allison Martin
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States of America
| | | | - Claudia Chalk
- Cincinatti Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | - Marchele Nowell-Bostic
- Cincinatti Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | - Brian Freed
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States of America
- ClinImmune Labs Aurora, CO, United States of America
| | - Michael Aubrey
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States of America
- ClinImmune Labs Aurora, CO, United States of America
| | - Bruce Trapnell
- Cincinatti Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | - Andrew Fontenot
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States of America
- * E-mail: (KA); (AF)
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Biliary atresia is a poorly understood deadly disease. Genetic predisposition factors are suspected albeit not firmly established. This review summarizes recent evidence of genetic alterations in biliary atresia. RECENT FINDINGS Whole-genome association studies in biliary atresia patients identified four distinct predisposition loci with four different genes potentially involved in the disease occurrence. Variations in these genes were searched for, but none were found in patients with biliary atresia suggesting complex mechanisms. SUMMARY Despite decades since its description and decades of intensive researches, cause of biliary atresia disease remains enigmatic. The inheritance of biliary atresia is not Mendelian. Genetic predisposition factor is one of the explored fields to explain biliary atresia pathogenicity. Biliary atresia has been associated with several inborn syndromes, chromosome anomalies, and gene polymorphisms in specific populations. Four predisposition loci encompassing genes relevant to the disease have been identified, but no pathogenic variations were found in biliary atresia patients. Few reported cases of isolated biliary atresia manifestation in the context of known genetic diseases suggest coincidental findings. Alternatives to classic genetic alterations are proposed to explain genetic predisposition in biliary atresia including noncoding and epigenetic factors. Biliary atresia is most likely related to complex traits making its genetic exploration challenging.
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Bezerra JA, Wells RG, Mack CL, Karpen SJ, Hoofnagle J, Doo E, Sokol RJ. Biliary Atresia: Clinical and Research Challenges for the Twenty-First Century. Hepatology 2018; 68:1163-1173. [PMID: 29604222 PMCID: PMC6167205 DOI: 10.1002/hep.29905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2017] [Revised: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Biliary atresia (BA) is a fibroinflammatory disease of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary tree. Surgical hepatic portoenterostomy (HPE) may restore bile drainage, but progression of the intrahepatic disease results in complications of portal hypertension and advanced cirrhosis in most children. Recognizing that further progress in the field is unlikely without a better understanding of the underlying cause(s) and pathogenesis of the disease, the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) sponsored a research workshop focused on innovative and promising approaches and on identifying future areas of research. Investigators discussed recent advances using gestational ultrasound and results of newborn BA screening with serum direct (conjugated) bilirubin that support a prenatal onset of biliary injury. Experimental and human studies implicate the toxic properties of environmental toxins (e.g., biliatresone) and of viruses (e.g., cytomegalovirus) to the biliary system. Among host factors, sequence variants in genes related to biliary development and ciliopathies, a notable lack of a cholangiocyte glycocalyx and of submucosal collagen bundles in the neonatal extrahepatic bile ducts, and an innate proinflammatory bias of the neonatal immune system contribute to an increased susceptibility to damage and obstruction following epithelial injury. These advances form the foundation for a future research agenda focused on identifying the environmental and host factor(s) that cause BA, the potential use of population screening, studies of the mechanisms of prominent fibrosis in young infants, determinations of clinical surrogates of disease progression, and the design of clinical trials that target subgroups of patients with initial drainage following HPE. (Hepatology 2018; 00:000-000).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge A. Bezerra
- Liver Care Center of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and the Department of Pediatrics of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Rebecca G. Wells
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Cara L. Mack
- Pediatric Liver Center, Children’s Hospital Colorado and Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Saul J. Karpen
- Emory University School of Medicine and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jay Hoofnagle
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Edward Doo
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ronald J. Sokol
- Pediatric Liver Center, Children’s Hospital Colorado and Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
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Kilgore A, Mack CL. Update on investigations pertaining to the pathogenesis of biliary atresia. Pediatr Surg Int 2017; 33:1233-1241. [PMID: 29063959 PMCID: PMC5894874 DOI: 10.1007/s00383-017-4172-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Biliary atresia is a devastating biliary disease of neonates that results in liver transplantation for the vast majority. The etiology of biliary atresia is unknown and is likely multifactorial, with components of genetic predisposition, environmental trigger and autoimmunity contributing to disease pathogenesis. This review highlights recent work related to investigations of disease pathogenesis in biliary atresia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Kilgore
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Digestive Health Institute, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Cara L. Mack
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Digestive Health Institute, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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Abstract
Biliary atresia is a rare disease of unclear etiology, in which obstruction of the biliary tree causes severe cholestasis leading to cirrhosis and ultimately death if left untreated. Biliary atresia is the leading cause of neonatal cholestasis and the most frequent indication for pediatric liver transplantation. Any infant with persistent jaundice beyond 2 weeks of life needs to be evaluated for biliary atresia with fractionation of the bilirubin into conjugated and unconjugated portions. Early performance of a hepatoportoenterostomy in the first 45 days of life to restore bile flow and lessen further damage to the liver is thought to optimize outcome. Despite surgery, progressive liver scarring occurs, and 80% of patients with biliary atresia will require liver transplantation during childhood.
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