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Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 14, 2006; 12(22): 3512-3522
Published online Jun 14, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i22.3512
Biliary wound healing, ductular reactions, and IL-6/gp130 signaling in the development of liver disease
A J Demetris, John G Lunz III, Susan Specht, Isao Nozaki
A J Demetris, John G Lunz III, Susan Specht, The Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, Departments of Pathology, Division of Transplantation, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States
Isao Nozaki, National Shikoku Cancer Center Hospital, Depart-ment of Surgery, 13 Horinouchi, Matsuyama, 790-0007, Japan
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by NIH grant R01 DK49615 to AJD
Correspondence to: A J Demetris, MD, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, UPMC-Montefiore E-741, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2582, United States. demetrisaj@upmc.edu
Telephone: +1-412-6472067 Fax: +1-412-6472084
Received: January 21, 2006
Revised: February 8, 2006
Accepted: February 18, 2006
Published online: June 14, 2006
Abstract

Basic and translational wound healing research in the biliary tree lag significantly behind similar studies on the skin and gastrointestinal tract. This is at least partly attributable to lack of easy access to the biliary tract for study. But clinical relevance, more interest in biliary epithelial cell (BEC) pathophysiology, and widespread availability of BEC cultures are factors reversing this trend. In the extra-hepatic biliary tree, ineffectual wound healing, scarring and stricture development are pressing issues. In the smallest intra-hepatic bile ducts either impaired BEC proliferation or an exuberant response can contribute to liver disease. Chronic inflammation and persistent wound healing reactions in large and small bile ducts often lead to liver cancer. General concepts of wound healing as they apply to the biliary tract, importance of cellular processes dependent on IL-6/gp130/STAT3 signaling pathways, unanswered questions, and future directions are discussed.

Keywords: Biliary wound healing, Ductular reactions, IL-6/gp130 signaling