HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Molecular identification of bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene in liver tissue of primary biliary cirrhosis: is Propionibacterium acnes involved in granuloma formation?

Abstract
The etiopathogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) remains speculative. Epithelioid granulomas are often found in the vicinity of damaged interlobular bile ducts in PBC, raising the possibility of a reaction to microbial materials. In this study, we tried to detect and identify bacterial DNA within granulomatous lesions in PBC. Using liver sections from 9 patients with PBC and 13 control livers, granuloma in portal tracts, portal tracts without granuloma, and adjacent hepatic parenchyma were selectively microdissected from sections, and then DNA was extracted from them. First, part of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene was amplified from DNA samples extracted from 5 PBC and 6 control livers, and their amplicons were sequenced for the identification of bacterial species. Several indigenous bacteria were identified. Among them, Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) was detected as a major clone in 20% to 50% of sequenced clones from granuloma of PBC, but the detection rate of P. acnes was 0% to 20% in those cloned from adjacent hepatic parenchyma of PBC. Then, a P. acnes-specific PCR was performed using all microdissected samples. Distinct PCR products were identified in epithelioid granuloma in all 9 PBC cases. The result that P. acnes DNA is present as a major clone in granulomas of PBC, suggest that P. acnes is involved in the pathogenesis of granuloma in PBC.
AuthorsK Harada, K Tsuneyama, Y Sudo, S Masuda, Y Nakanuma
JournalHepatology (Baltimore, Md.) (Hepatology) Vol. 33 Issue 3 Pg. 530-6 (Mar 2001) ISSN: 0270-9139 [Print] United States
PMID11230731 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
Topics
  • DNA, Bacterial (metabolism)
  • Female
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections (complications)
  • Granuloma (genetics, microbiology)
  • Humans
  • Liver (microbiology)
  • Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary (complications, genetics, microbiology)
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Propionibacterium acnes (genetics, physiology)
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S (metabolism)
  • Reference Values

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: