Abstract | BACKGROUND:
Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), characterized by cholangitis and loss of intrahepatic small bile ducts, predominantly affects middle-aged females. We have reported that fractalkine expression associated with chronic inflammation is observed in the damaged bile ducts and periductal vessels of PBC patients, which is closely associated with chronic cholangitis. AIMS: We investigated the association between serum fractalkine levels and clinicopathological findings in PBC patients. METHODS: RESULTS: Serum fractalkine levels were in the range of 0.1-33.2 ng/ml (average, 3.2 ng/ml). They were increased in PBC patients with high degrees of cholangitis activity, a mild degree of hepatitis activity, fibrosis, orcein-positive granules, and early stages. In cases with high serum fractalkine levels, those who exhibited good biochemical responses to treatment mostly showed improved serum fractalkine levels after treatment. CONCLUSION: Serum fractalkine levels of PBC patients were high in cases with marked cholangitis activity at early stages. In addition, they closely correlated with the effect of therapy, indicating that fractalkine plays a role in the pathogenesis of initial cholangitis in early stage PBC and consequent chronic cholangitis. Thus, our results suggest that fractalkine is a good candidate for molecular-targeted treatment.
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Authors | Kenichi Harada, Yuko Kakuda, Minoru Nakamura, Shinji Shimoda, Yasuni Nakanuma |
Journal | Digestive diseases and sciences
(Dig Dis Sci)
Vol. 58
Issue 10
Pg. 3037-43
(Oct 2013)
ISSN: 1573-2568 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 23765258
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Biomarkers
- Chemokine CX3CL1
- Cholagogues and Choleretics
- Ursodeoxycholic Acid
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Topics |
- Biomarkers
(blood)
- Chemokine CX3CL1
(blood)
- Cholagogues and Choleretics
(therapeutic use)
- Cholangitis
(blood, epidemiology)
- Female
- Humans
- Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary
(blood, complications, drug therapy)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Retrospective Studies
- Risk Factors
- Treatment Outcome
- Ursodeoxycholic Acid
(therapeutic use)
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