Murine models of primary biliary cholangitis and its role in disease research / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune liver disease characterized by destructive cholangitis affecting the small intrahepatic bile ducts, and the presence of antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA). At present, there has been limited progress in exploring the pathogenesis of the disease, because of difficulty in obtaining human tissue samples and lack of suitable animal models. In recent years, some murine models have been reported, which showed serological, biochemical, and histological characteristics similar to those of humans with PBC. In this review, various murine models of PBC are reviewed, and the characteristics and mechanism of PBC in mice are introduced. Besides, their advantages and limitations in the study of PBC are discussed. It hopes to provide an important theoretical basis for studying the pathogenesis of PBC and developing therapeutic drugs for PBC.