title: Experimental evidence on the immunopathogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis.
abstract: Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease for which an autoimmune pathogenesis is supported by clinical and experimental data, including the presence of autoantibodies and autoreactive T cells. The etiology remains to be determined, yet data suggest that both a susceptible genetic background and unknown environmental factors determine disease onset. Multiple infectious and chemical candidates have been proposed to trigger the disease in a genetically susceptible host, mostly by molecular mimicry. Most recently, several murine models have been reported, including genetically determined models as well as models induced by immunization with xenobiotics and bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy. carlo.selmi@unimi.it
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Selmi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meda
authors.forename: Anaid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kasangian
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Invernizzi
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Zhexiong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Podda
authors.forename: M Eric
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Gershwin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D015262:Xenobiotics