Murine models of autoimmune cholangitis.
OBJECTIVE
Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a human autoimmune liver disease whose molecular pathogenesis is poorly understood because of the difficulty in accessing human tissue and the absence of appropriate animal models. Recently, several unique murine models of human PBC have been discovered. These models have great potential for illustrating the cause and the cellular events that lead to biliary-specific damage. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent progress in these models.


RESULTS
The murine models of autoimmune cholangitis include the transforming growth factor beta receptor II (TGF-betaRII) dominant-negative (dnTGF-betaRII), IL-2 receptor alpha deleted (IL-2Ralpha-/-), scurfy, nonobese diabetic (NOD) c3c4, and Ae2 gene-disrupted (Ae2a,b-/-) mice. Recently, we have also established a successful murine model following the immunization with a chemical mimicry of the lipoyl-lysine residue of the E2 component of PDC-E2.


CONCLUSIONS
These emerging murine models have greatly enabled researchers to address the pathogenesis of human PBC and to elucidate pathogenic factors. These models will ultimately lead to new therapeutic options for human PBC.
Division of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan. yueno@mail.tains.tohoku.ac.jp
Yoshiyuki
Y
Ueno
Yoko M
YM
Ambrosini
Yuki
Y
Moritoki
William M
WM
Ridgway
M Eric
ME
Gershwin
D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases; D002761:Cholangitis / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic