title: The defects of cholangiocyte primary cilia in patients with graft cholangiopathies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the morphologic changes in intrahepatic bile ducts and the defects of cholangiocyte primary cilia in patients with graft cholangiopathies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four patients who were diagnosed as graft cholangiopathies and underwent retransplantation were chosen as the study group; another four patients who underwent liver transplantation during the same period and recovered normally six months after the operation were the control group. The serum levels of biochemical indicators were measured, the morphologic changes in intrahepatic bile ducts and cholangiocyte primary cilia were observed, and the ciliary marker (α-tubulin) and membrane proteins (polycystin-1, TPPV4) were detected by immunofluorescence analysis and Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the study group, biliary structures were vague and some bile ducts disappeared in portal areas; some epithelial cells were lost; lots of collagen was deposited and many phlogocytes infiltrated; microliths were found in some ductal lumens; partial biliary epithelial cells were necrosed; primary cilia and microvilli disappeared. In the control group, the structures of intrahepatic bile ducts and biliary epithelial cells were integrated and the primary cilia were present.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The morphologic changes in biliary epithelial cells and the defects of cholangiocyte primary cilia have a close correlation with graft cholangiopathies in liver transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical College, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Wei
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Jia-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Chong-Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002923:Cilia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055031:Primary Graft Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012086:Reoperation; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: biliary epithelial cells; graft cholangiopathies; liver transplantation; primary cilia-morphology