Estrogen receptor alpha‐mediated mitochondrial damage in intrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells leading to the pathogenesis of primary biliary cholangitis

• DOI: 10.1002/tox.23906
• Publication Date: 2023-09-23T14:39:12Z
• Authors: Mengting Liang; Siwen Ye; Rubin Jing; Bukun Zhu; Wenjie Yuan; Xi Chu; Ying Li; Wei Zhang
• Keywords: Pathogenesis; Estrogen receptor beta; Estrogen receptor alpha; Intrahepatic bile ducts

Abstract This study investigated the effects of estrogen and receptor alpha (ERα) on pathogenesis primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) in human intrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells (HiBECs). The researchers measured serum levels ERα, oxidative stress indicators, cytokines PBC patients healthy controls. They examined expression pyruvate dehydrogenase complex E2‐component (PDC‐E2), apoptosis‐related proteins small ducts. In vitro experiments with HiBECs showed that had a dual effect cell viability, increasing it at low concentrations but reducing higher concentrations. ERα activation led to mitochondrial damage, apoptosis, upregulation PDC‐E2 expression. These findings suggest high ducts contributes inflammation, apoptosis PBC. highlights as potential target for understanding treating estrogen‐mediated pathogenesis.