| Theme | Gastrointestinal Diseases and Cytokines : Pathophysiological Control | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Cytokines in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis | |
| Publish Date | 2005/03 | |
| Author | Kentaro Kikuchi | Fourfh Departmenf of Internal Medicine, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Mizonokuchi Hospital |
| Author | Hiroshi Miyakawa | Fourfh Departmenf of Internal Medicine, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Mizonokuchi Hospital |
| [ Summary ] | Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an autoimmune liver disease occurring predominantly in elderly-females. It is characterized by chronic non-suppurative destructive cholangitis as an early pathological feature, progressing to biliary cirrhosis. T cells are dominant, infiltrating cells in the portal area. Therefore, autoreactive T cells are thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of PBC. Differing from other autoimmune diseases (Th 2 dominant), cytokine profiles showed both Th 1 (producing mainly IL-2 and IFN-γ) and Th 2 cells (producing IL-4, IL-5) existed in PBC livers. Genetic variations were also studied, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms of IL-10 and TNF-α, associated with susceptibility and disease progression of PBC. However, immunogenetic studies of PBC should take into account ethnic and geographic variations. In this article, recent advances in the knowledge of several cytokines and genetic polymorphisms which are associated with the pathogenesis of PBC are reviewed, including our original analysis. | |