Naturally-occurring regulatory T cells are increased in inflamed portal tracts with cholangiopathy in primary biliary cirrhosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an autoimmune liver disease targeting the intrahepatic small bile ducts showing chronic non-suppurative destructive cholangitis (CNSDC). Recent studies suggest that naturally-occurring CD4+CD25high regulatory T cells (Tregs) expressing Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) play an active role in immunological self-tolerance.

Aims

To investigate whether Foxp3+Tregs are involved in the pathogenesis of PBC.

Methods

Foxp3+Tregs was detected immunohistochemically in livers from patients with PBC (n = 27), chronic viral hepatitis (CVH) (n = 15), and normal subjects (n = 10). The distribution of Tregs in portal tracts was semi-quantitatively evaluated in each groups. Levels of Foxp3, IL-10, TGFbeta, IFNgamma and TNFalpha mRNA was evaluated in

SUBMITTER: Sasaki M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2014857 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature