Cell cultures of bile duct epithelium and the pathogenesis of biliary atresia.
The pathogenesis of biliary atresia is unknown. The authors describe a technique for culturing extrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells of human and bovine origin in monolayer cell cultures. Light-, electron microscopy and immunohistological studies prove the epithelial nature of the cultured cells. Inoculation of the cells with reovirus 3 showed no destruction; adenovirus 6, herpes simplex and polio virus 1 and 2 destroyed the cells within 24 h. The cells produce a growth factor maintaining the integrity of the cells, even in the absence of serum.
D000818:Animals; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000209:etiology*; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003135:Common Bile Duct / Q000473:pathology; D003549:Cystic Duct / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D006500:Hepatic Duct, Common / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn