Article Text
PDFLeading article
Primary biliary cirrhosis: seeking the silent partner of autoimmunity
Abstract
Primary biliary cirrhosis is a disorder characterised by an intense inflammatory response in the septal and interlobular bile ducts and is considered to be an autoimmune disease. Evidence to suggest that chronic viral infection could be a crucial element in the development of biliary epithelial cell damage and activation of the associated autoimmune response is reviewed
- primary biliary cirrhosis
- autoimmunity
- viral infection
- PBC, primary biliary cirrhosis
- AMA, antimitochondrial antibodies
- 2-OADC, 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase complex
- PDC, pyruvate dehydrogenase complex
- MS, multiple sclerosis
- PLP, proteolipid protein
- TMEV, Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus