Brief Reports
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2004. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 15, 2004; 10(16): 2415-2416
Published online Aug 15, 2004. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i16.2415
Lack of evidence for leukocyte maternal microchimerism in primary biliary cirrhosis
Kenichi Nomura, Yoshio Sumida, Takaharu Yoh, Atsuhiro Morita, Yosuke Matsumoto, Sawako Taji, Naohisa Yoshida, Masahito Minami, Yoshito Itoh, Shigeo Horiike, Keisho Kataoka, Masafumi Taniwaki, Takeshi Okanoue
Kenichi Nomura, Yosuke Matsumoto, Shigeo Horiike, Keisho Kataoka, Masafumi Taniwaki, Molecular Hematology and Oncology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto 602-0841, Japan
Yoshio Sumida, Department of Internal Medicine, National Nara Hospital, Nara 630-8305, Japan
Takaharu Yoh, Department of Internal Medicine, Aiseikai Yamashina Hospital, Kyoto 607-8086, Japan
Atsuhiro Morita, Ayabe city Hospital, Kyoto 623-0011, Japan
Naohisa Yoshida, Sawako Taji, Masahito Minami, Yoshito Itoh, Takeshi Okanoue, Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto 602-0841, Japan
Masafumi Taniwaki, Clinical Molecular Genetics and Laboratory Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto 602-0841, Japan
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the grants of the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, and Culture of Japan, No.15790497
Correspondence to: Dr. Kenichi Nomura, Molecular Hematology and Oncology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Graduate School of Medical Science, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-0841, Japan. nomuken@sun.kpu-m.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-75-251-5521 Fax: +81-75-251-0710
Received: March 11, 2004
Revised: March 22, 2004
Accepted: April 9, 2004
Published online: August 15, 2004
Abstract

AIM: It is reasonable to assume that microchimerism could also be involved in the induction of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). However, previous reports investigated only fetus-microchimerism in women patients. Maternal microchimerism has not been investigated until now. The current study aimed to clear either maternal microchimerism was involved in the pathogenesis of PBC or not.

METHODS: We used fluorescence in situ hybridization on paraffin-embedded tissue (We called “Tissue-FISH”.) to determine whether maternal cells infiltrated in male patients who were diagnosed as having PBC. Tissue-FISH was performed by using both X and Y specific probes on the biopsy liver sample of 3 male PBC patients.

RESULTS: Infiltrating lymphocytes demonstrated both X and Y signals in all 3 male patients.

CONCLUSION: Maternal microchimerism dose not play a significant role in PBC. PBC may not relate to fetus and maternal microchimerism.

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