Biliary atresia (BA) is a destructive cholangiopathy of childhood in which Th1 immunity has been mechanistically linked to the bile duct inflammation and obstruction that culminate in liver injury. Based on reports of decreased Th1 cytokines in some patients and the development of BA in mice lacking CD4 + T cells, we hypothesized that Th1-independent mechanisms can also activate effector cells and induce BA. Here, we tested this hypothesis using Stat1 -/-mice, which lack the ability to mount Th1 immune responses. Infection of Stat1 -/-mice with rhesus rotavirus type A (RRV) on postnatal day 1 induced a prominent Th2 response, duct epithelial injury and obstruction within 7 days, and atresia shortly thereafter. A high degree of phosphorylation of the Th2 transcription factor Stat6 was observed; however, concurrent inactivation of Stat1 and Stat6 in mice did not prevent BA after RRV infection. In contrast, depletion of macrophages or combined loss of Il13 and Stat1 reduced tissue infiltration by lymphocytes and myeloid cells, maintained epithelial integrity, and prevented duct obstruction. In concordance with our mouse model, humans at the time of BA diagnosis exhibited differential hepatic expression of Th2 genes and serum Th2 cytokines. These findings demonstrate compatibility between Th2 commitment and the pathogenesis of BA, and suggest that patient subgrouping in future clinical trials should account for differences in Th2 status.
Objective: To evaluate epidemiological, clinical and prognostic characteristics of children with biliary atresia.Methods: Data regarding portoenterostomy, liver transplantation (LTx), age at last follow-up and survival were collected from the records of patients followed up in six Brazilian centers and compared regarding decades of surgery.Results: Of 513 patients, 76.4% underwent portoenterostomy [age: 60-94.7 (82.6±32.8) days] and 46.6% underwent LTx. In 69% of cases, LTx followed portoenterostomy, whereas in 31% of cases LTx was performed as the primary surgery. Patients from the Northeast region underwent portoenterostomy later than infants from Southern (p = 0.008) and Southeastern (p = 0.0012) Brazil, although even in the latter two regions age at portoenterostomy was higher than desirable. Over the decades, LTx was increasingly performed. Overall survival was 67.6%. Survival increased over the decades (1980s vs. 1990s, p = 0.002; 1980s vs. 2000s, p < 0.001; 1990s vs. 2000s, p < 0.001). The 4-year postportoenterostomy survival, with or without LTx, was 73.4%, inversely correlated with age at portoenterostomy (80, 77.7, 60.5% for ≤ 60, 61-90, > 90 days, respectively). Higher survival rates were observed among transplanted patients (88.3%). The 4-year native liver survival was 36.8%, inversely correlated with age at portoenterostomy (54, 33.3, 26.6% for ≤ 60, 61-90, > 90 days, respectively). Conclusions:This multicenter study showed that late referral for biliary atresia is still a problem in Brazil, affecting patient survival. Strategies to enhance earlier referral are currently being developed aiming to decrease the need for liver transplantation in the first years of life. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2010;86(6):473-479:Biliary atresia, portoenterostomy, hepatic, surgery, diagnosis, differential, prognosis. ResumoObjetivo: Avaliar as características epidemiológicas, clínicas e prognósticas de crianças com atresia biliar. Os pacientes da região Nordeste foram submetidos a portoenterostomia mais tardiamente do que as crianças das regiões Sul (p = 0,008) e Sudeste (p = 0,0012), embora, mesmo nas duas últimas regiões, a idade no momento da portoenterostomia tenha sido superior ao desejável. Ao longo das décadas, houve aumento progressivo do número de TxH realizados. A sobrevida global foi de 67,6%. A sobrevida aumentou nas últimas décadas (anos 1980 versus 90, p = 0,002; anos 1980 versus 2000, p < 0,001; anos 1990 versus 2000, p < 0,001). A sobrevida de 4 anos pós-portoenterostomia, com ou sem TxH, foi de 73,4%, inversamente correlacionada à idade no momento da portoenterostomia (80, 77,7, 60,5% para ≤ 60, 61-90, > 90 dias, respectivamente). Os pacientes transplantados apresentaram taxas de sobrevida mais elevadas (88,3%). A sobrevida de 4 anos com fígado nativo foi de 36,8%, inversamente correlacionada à idade no momento da portoenterostomia (54, 33,3, 26,6% para ≤ 60, 61-90, > 90 dias, respectivamente). Método Conclusões:Este estudo multicêntrico demonstrou que o encaminhamento tardio das crianças portad...
In biliary atresia (BA), a cholangiopathy of elusive etiology invariably leads to cirrhosis, and a disturbed angiogenesis may be involved. We evaluated the hepatobiliary immunolocalization of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) A, VEGF receptor 1 (R1), and R2 in BA. We analyzed biopsies obtained at portoenterostomy from infants with BA (n=52), including embryonic (n=14) and perinatal (n=38) types. Controls were infants with intrahepatic cholestasis (IC; n=7). In BA, VEGF A immunolocalization was also evaluated in explants (n=33) and at the porta hepatis (n=16). We morphometrically assessed the percentage of CK7 (PCK7) positivity in BA and the ratio medial layer thickness/luminal diameter in hepatic artery branches in BA and IC. We found that arteries were more frequently positive for VEGF A in BA at portoenterostomy (P=0.006) than in other groups. In explants, VEGF A immunolocalization was mainly lobular (P<0.001). VEGFR2 was less frequently positive in BA than IC in bile ducts (P=0.023) and hepatocytes (P=0.011). A higher PCK7 positivity was associated with arterial (P<0.001) and biliary (P=0.040) VEGF A positivity. PCK7 was correlated with biliary (P=0.031), arterial (P=0.031), and hepatocytic (P=0.032) VEGF A positivity in BA at portoenterostomy. VEGF A was positive in arteries and bile ducts at the porta hepatis mainly in the perinatal BA type (P=0.013). Biliary (P=0.016) and arterial (P=0.044) VEGF A positivity were associated with higher ratio medial layer thickness/luminal diameter values. Our findings suggest that hypoxia/ischemia affects the portal structures in BA at portoenterostomy, beginning at the porta hepatis, and it is associated both with the extent of biliary proliferation and medial layer thickening.
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