PubMed ID:
23505615
Public Release Type:
Journal
Publication Year: 2013
Affiliation: Departments of Medicine and Immunology, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 80045 Aurora, CO USA ; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Digestive Health Institute, Children's Hospital Colorado, Hepatology and Nutrition, 13123 East 16th Ave. B290, 80045 Aurora, CO USA.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1186/2193-1801-2-42
Authors:
Anderson KM,
Aubrey MT,
Freed BM,
Mack CL,
Rosenthal P,
Sokol RJ
Studies:
A Prospective Database of Infants With Cholestasis
Biliary atresia (BA) is characterized by progressive inflammation and fibrosis of bile ducts. A theory of pathogenesis entails autoimmune-mediated injury targeting bile duct epithelia. One of the strongest genetic associations with autoimmunity is with HLA genes. In addition, apparently dissimilar HLA alleles may have similar antigen-binding sites, called shared epitopes, that overlap in their capacity to present antigens. In autoimmune disease, the incidence of the disease may be related to the presence of shared epitopes, not simply the HLA allelic association.