Advances in the research of liver fibrosis in biliary atresia / 天津医药

ABSTRACT

Biliary atresia (BA) is one of the most serious digestive system diseases, which threatens the health of infants. Liver fibrosis is a major cause of death in children with BA. In the process of the pathogenesis of BA, virus infection can in?duce a series of immune and inflammatory reaction, result in a decrease of regulatory T cells (Treg cells) and high expression of CD14, activating a variety of inflammatory pathways and TGF-β/Smad2/3 pro-fibrogenic pathway, which produces a large number of medium damage of liver cells and bile duct cells, releases proinflammatory factor, oxygen metabolism matter and cytokines. These changes further aggravate damage of hepatobiliary system and cause the internal environment imbalance of liver parenchyma cells. The imbalance of internal environment with adaptive degeneration and necrosis in liver parenchyma cells, hepatic macrophages and gathered inflammatory cells leads to the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). HSCs can be converted into fibroblast cells, and promote the process of liver fibrosis. Immune and inflammatory lesions, pro-fibrogenic pathway are the important factors in contributing to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis of biliary atresia.