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Semin Liver Dis 2005; 25(3): 251-264
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-916318
Copyright © 2005 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

The Immunophysiology of Biliary Epithelium

Giammarco Fava1 , Shannon Glaser2 , 3 , Heather Francis3 , Gianfranco Alpini1 , 2 , 4
  • 1Department of Medical Physiology, Scott & White Hospital and The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, College of Medicine
  • 2Department of Medicine, Scott & White Hospital and The Texas A&M University System HSC, COM
  • 3Division of R&E, Scott & White Hospital and The Texas A&M University System HSC, COM
  • 4Professor of Medicine and Medical Physiology, and Dr. Nicholas C. Hightower Centennial Chair of , Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System, Temple, Texas
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Publication History

Publication Date:
06 September 2005 (online)

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ABSTRACT

The immune system maintains the homeostasis of the biliary epithelium, where bile and cholangiocytes play an important role in modulating immune responses. Furthermore, cholangiocytes represent the target of the immune system in several hepatobiliary diseases (e.g., primary biliary cirrhosis). This article is organized into two parts. The first section reviews the role of cholangiocytes in the immune defense and the mechanisms by which cholangiocytes regulate immune responses. The expression of adhesion molecules on the cholangiocyte surface allows the interaction with immune cells, thus localizing and modulating the intensity of the immune reactions. Moreover, cholangiocytes secrete immunoglobulins, cytokines, and other mediators, which affect the functions of the surrounding liver cells, as well the cholangiocytes themselves. Cholangiocytes express major histocompatibility complex molecules, and thereby could act as antigen-presenting cells. In the second section, we describe how cytokines and inflammatory mediators modulate cholangiocyte function such as proliferation, apoptosis, secretion, and malignant transformation.

KEYWORDS

Biliary epithelium - immune system - cytokines - adhesion molecules - antigen presenting cells

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Gianfranco AlpiniPh.D. 

The Texas A&M University System, HSC COM, and Central Texas Veterans HCS

MRB, 702 South West H.K. Dodgen Loop

Temple, Texas 76504

Email: galpini@tamu.edu

Email: galpini@medicine.tamu.edu