Immunological pathogenesis of primary biliary cholangitis / 临床肝胆病杂志

ABSTRACT

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic autoimmune disease caused by the attack of the liver by the immune system and is commonly seen in middle-aged women.The pathological features of this disease include the infiltration of a large number of innate immune cells (NK cells,NK T cells,and monocytes,etc.) and adaptive immune cells (T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes) at the portal area and injury of small intrahepatic bile ducts.In addition,PBC patients have high serum levels of anti-mitochondrial antibodies and inflammatory cytokines such as interferon-γ,tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-6,and interleukin-12.Although current studies have shown that autoreactive T cells are the major effector cells for PBC,NK cells,NK T cells,monocytes,and B cells around the portal vein also directly or indirectly participate in the development and progression of PBC.This article systematically summarizes the role of innate immune cells,adaptive immune cells,and related chemokines in the pathogenesis of PBC,in order to provide a theoretical basis for a deep understanding of the immunological pathogenesis of PBC.