Publications by authors named "Takumi Hanatani"
Background: Multiple factors are involved in the pathogenesis of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), a chronic cholestatic liver disease, characterized by intrahepatic cholangiopathy. In particular, studies have suggested that environmental factors such as the presence of granulomas in the portal vein region are important for the development of PBC. This study aimed to comprehensively analyze and identify foreign-derived antigens in PBC liver tissue to confirm their involvement in PBC pathogenesis.
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- Cholestatic liver diseases involve inflammation and fibrosis around bile ducts, but the mechanisms behind this pathology are not fully understood, prompting investigation into the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs).
- Researchers stimulated biliary epithelial cells with bile acids and found that EVs released from these cells could activate inflammatory responses in macrophages and promote fibrosis in other cell types.
- The study identified specific proteins in the stimulated EVs that were linked to increased production of inflammatory cytokines and fibrotic markers, suggesting that these EVs contribute to the progression of cholestatic liver diseases.