title: Clinical significance of c-kit expression in biliary atresia.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to examine the clinical significance of c-kit expression in biliary atresia (BA) using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections from 21 patients with BA. Patients were divided into group I (n = 8) with good liver function; group II (n = 8) with moderate liver dysfunction; and group III (n = 5) with severe liver dysfunction. Choledochal cysts (CDC, n = 5) and normal liver samples (NL, n = 4) served as controls. The results were analyzed and compared among the groups. Most c-kit+ cells were present in the portal tracts, and their numbers in BA were significantly higher than in the controls (11.12 +/- 1.64 vs 2.15 +/- 0.15 [mean +/- standard error], P = 0.02, BA vs CDC; 11.12 +/- 1.64 vs 1.66 +/- 0.52, P = 0.03, BA vs NL). Clinical correlation revealed a significantly higher number of c-kit+ cells in group III versus group I (18.10 +/- 3.62 vs 8.86 +/- 2.51, P = 0.02). These results suggest that c-kit overexpression is associated with an adverse clinical outcome in BA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tohoku University School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nio
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohtani
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nagura
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ohi
mesh_terms: D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit