title: The role of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in biliary atresia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to explain the role of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in biliary atresia (BA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Concentrations of serum MCP-1 and collagen type IV were measured in 38 patients with BA by using commercially available kits. MCP-1 was also assessed in liver biopsy specimens by using immunohistochemistry. Subjects were classified into groups. Group 1 comprised BA patients with normal liver function (n = 13), group II comprised BA patients with moderate liver dysfunction (n = 18), group III comprised BA patients older than 20 years awaiting liver transplantation (n = 7), and the control group comprised age-matched patients without evidence of liver disease (n = 23).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum MCP-1 levels were significantly increased in group II compared with group I (P < .0001) and the control group (P < .0001). Serum MCP-1 levels in group III were lower than in the control group (P < .0001). There was a significant linear correlation between serum MCP-1 levels and type IV collagen levels in group II. Group II subjects with portal hypertension (PH) had higher MCP-1 levels than those without PH (P = .0009). Biopsy specimens showed MCP-1 was expressed mainly on biliary epithelial cells, vascular endothelial cells, and hepatocytes in group II.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that MCP-1 probably plays a significant role in the development of progressive liver fibrosis in BA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric General and Urogenital Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan. koba@med.juntendo.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tamatani
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kusafuka
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koga
authors.forename: Atsuyuki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamataka
authors.forename: Geoffrey J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: Katsumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyahara
authors.forename: Noriyoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sueyoshi
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000097:blood; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D024141:Collagen Type IV