IFITM1 aggravates ConA-Induced autoimmune hepatitis by promoting NKT cell activation through increased AMPK-Dependent mitochondrial function.

Although interferon-induced transmembrane 1 (IFITM1) is known for its crucial role in antiviral immunity, its involvement in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) remains largely unexplored. In this study, we observed that IFITM1 expression is markedly upregulated in a Concanavalin A (ConA)-induced AIH model, with particularly high and markedly elevated expression in natural killer T (NKT) cells. To further understand the role of IFITM1, we examined the responses of IFITM1 mice in a model of ConA-induced liver injury.

Add-on immunosuppressive therapy may benefit selected patients with primary biliary cholangitis and autoimmune phenomena.

Background: Mildly elevated levels of transaminase and/or immunoglobulin G (IgG) are common in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). It is still unclear whether adding immunosuppressive therapy to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) benefits those patients who are not fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of PBC with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) features.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of adding immunosuppressive therapy to UDCA for patients with PBC and autoimmune phenomena but not fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of PBC with AIH features.

The future risk of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is low among patients with incidental anti-mitochondrial antibodies but without baseline PBC.

Anti-mitochondrial autoantibodies (AMAs) are highly specific for the diagnosis of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) but are also occasionally found in other diseases. In the present study, we evaluated the incidence of and predictors for PBC development in AMA-positive patients with other liver or non-liver diseases at baseline. In this retrospective study, we screened patients who tested positive for AMA and/or anti-mitochondrial M2 antibody (AMA-M2) at Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, from October 2005 to January 2017.

Concomitant extrahepatic autoimmune diseases do not compromise the long-term outcomes of primary biliary cholangitis.

Background: Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) patients often have concomitant extrahepatic autoimmune (EHA) diseases including Sjögren's syndrome (SS), systemic sclerosis (SSc), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and autoimmune thyroid disease. The present study aimed to describe the prevalence of EHA diseases in PBC and explore the impact of EHA diseases on the long-term outcomes of PBC in Chinese patients.

Methods: Medical records of PBC patients diagnosed in our institute were retrospectively reviewed.