Cytokine patterns and cytotoxic mediators in primary biliary cirrhosis
Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an autoimmune disease of the liver with unknown etiology.
Autoreactive T lymphocytes that infiltrate the liver may play a major role in the bile duct
damage that accompanies the disease. We hypothesized that cytokines produced by T
lymphocytes and other cells are central to the disease process. Therefore, we used reverse
transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern hybridization to identify
cytokine message directly from liver tissue of 11 patients with PBC and 5 patients with …
Autoreactive T lymphocytes that infiltrate the liver may play a major role in the bile duct
damage that accompanies the disease. We hypothesized that cytokines produced by T
lymphocytes and other cells are central to the disease process. Therefore, we used reverse
transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern hybridization to identify
cytokine message directly from liver tissue of 11 patients with PBC and 5 patients with …