Mancinelli R, Onori P, DeMorrow S, Francis H, Glaser S, Franchitto A, Carpino G, Alpini G, Gaudio E. Role of sex hormones in the modulation of cholangiocyte function. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol 2010; 1(2): 50-62 [PMID: 21607142 DOI: 10.4291/wjgp.v1.i2.50]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Eugenio Gaudio, MD, Professor, Department of Human Anatomy “Sapienza” University of Rome, Via Borelli, 50, Rome I-00167, Italy. eugenio.gaudio@uniroma1.it
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World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. Jun 15, 2010; 1(2): 50-62 Published online Jun 15, 2010. doi: 10.4291/wjgp.v1.i2.50
Role of sex hormones in the modulation of cholangiocyte function
Romina Mancinelli, Paolo Onori, Sharon DeMorrow, Heather Francis, Shannon Glaser, Antonio Franchitto, Guido Carpino, Gianfranco Alpini, Eugenio Gaudio
Romina Mancinelli, Antonio Franchitto, Eugenio Gaudio, Department of Human Anatomy, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome 00161, Italy
Paolo Onori, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila 67100, Italy
Gianfranco Alpini, Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple TX 76504, United States
Sharon DeMorrow, Heather Francis, Shannon Glaser, Gianfranco Alpini, Scott and White Digestive Disease Research Center, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Temple TX 76504, United States
Guido Carpino, Department of Health Science, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome 00135, Italy
Author contributions: Mancinelli R collected data and wrote the paper; Onori P performed analysis and wrote the paper; DeMorrow S, Francis H, Glaser S and Alpini G edited and revised the paper; Franchitto A and Carpino G performed and collected data; and Gaudio E conceived the idea and edited the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Eugenio Gaudio, MD, Professor, Department of Human Anatomy “Sapienza” University of Rome, Via Borelli, 50, Rome I-00167, Italy. eugenio.gaudio@uniroma1.it
Telephone: +39-06-49918060 Fax: +39-06-49918062
Received: February 9, 2010 Revised: May 28, 2010 Accepted: June 4, 2010 Published online: June 15, 2010
Abstract
Over the last years, cholangiocytes, the cells that line the biliary tree, have been considered an important object of study for their biological properties which involves bile formation, proliferation, injury repair, fibrosis and angiogenesis. Cholangiocyte proliferation occurs in all pathologic conditions of liver injury where it is associated with inflammation and regeneration. During these processes, biliary cells start to secrete different cytokines, growth factors, neuropeptides and hormones which represent potential mechanisms for cross talk with other liver cells. Several studies suggest that hormones, and in particular, sex hormones, play a fundamental role in the modulation of the growth of this compartment in the injured liver which functionally conditions the progression of liver disease. Understanding the mechanisms of action and the intracellular pathways of these compounds on cholangiocyte pathophysiology will provide new potential strategies for the management of chronic liver diseases. The purpose of this review is to summarize the recent findings on the role of sex hormones in cholangiocyte proliferation and biology.
