The role of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in biliary atresia.
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.
Kobayashi
Hiroyuki
H
Department of Pediatric General and Urogenital Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan. koba@med.juntendo.ac.jp
Tamatani
Takuya
T
Tamura
Tsuyoshi
T
Kusafuka
Junichi
J
Koga
Hiroyuki
H
Yamataka
Atsuyuki
A
Lane
Geoffrey J
GJ
Miyahara
Katsumi
K
Sueyoshi
Noriyoshi
N
Miyano
Takeshi
T
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
D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D024141:Collagen Type IV