Control of cholangiocyte adaptive responses by visceral hormones and neuropeptides.
Cholangiocytes, the epithelial cells lining the biliary tree, are the target cells in several liver diseases, termed cholangiopathies. Cholangiopathies are a challenge for clinicians and an enigma for scientists, as the pathogenetic mechanisms by which they develop, and the therapeutic tools for these diseases are still undefined. Several studies demonstrate that many visceral hormones, neuropeptides, and neurotransmitters modulate the adaptive changes of cholangiocytes to chronic cholestatic injury. The aim of this review is to present the recent findings that contributed to clarify the role of visceral hormones and neuropeptides in the regulation of the pathophysiology of cholestasis. These studies helped to shed light on some aspects of cholangiocyte pathophysiology, revealing novel perspectives for the clinical managements of cholangiopathies.
Department of Gastroenterology, Università Politecnica delle Miarche, Nuovo Polo Didattico, III piano, Via Tronto 10, 60020, Ancona, Italy. m.marzioni@univpm.it
Marco
M
Marzioni
Giammarco
G
Fava
Domenico
D
Alvaro
Gianfranco
G
Alpini
Antonio
A
Benedetti
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D001659:Biliary Tract / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000502:physiology*; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000502:physiology*
D009479:Neuropeptides; D036361:Peptide Hormones