Microcystin-RR is a biliary toxin selective for neonatal extrahepatic cholangiocytes.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Biliary atresia is a fibrosing cholangiopathy affecting neonates that is thought to result from a prenatal environmental insult to the bile duct. Biliatresone, a plant toxin with an α-methylene ketone group, was previously implicated in biliary atresia in Australian livestock, but is found in a limited location and is unlikely to be a significant human toxin. We hypothesized that other unsaturated carbonyl compounds, some with the potential for significant human exposure, might also be biliary toxins.

Methods

We focused on the family of microcystins, cyclic peptide toxins from blue-green algae that are found worldwide, particularly during harmful algal blooms. We used primary extrahepatic cholangiocyte spheroids and extrahepatic bile duct explants from both

SUBMITTER: Gupta K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11648759 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature