“…In fact, a growing body of evidence points to the presence of a range of inflammatory mediators and other factors in bile. These factors include epidermal growth factor (21), cytokines TNF-␣ and IL-6 (37,40), and IL-1␣ and IL-1 (M. Wiseman, W. Sewell, and G. D. F. Jackson, unpublished data), complement proteins, and acute-phase proteins (46). Although the harsh conditions in which they are found might argue against a functional role for these biliary mediators, recent evidence suggests they may remain active within the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract (13, 36; W. Sewell, Y. Dai, and G. D. F. Jackson, unpublished data).…”