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Davenport M, Kronfli R, Makin E. Advances in understanding of biliary atresia pathogenesis and progression - a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 17:343-352. [PMID: 36908275 DOI: 10.1080/17474124.2023.2191188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Biliary atresia is a potentially fatal condition of the bile ducts - both intra- and extrahepatic, for which we have no cure. Though principally a cholestatic condition, much of its pathology stems from its tendency to aggressively induce liver fibrosis and ultimately cirrhosis, only partially restrained by the portoenterostomy. AREAS COVERED This review is based on the current literature exploring the heterogeneous nature of biliary atresia. Thus, there are various phenotypes or variants of biliary atresia, each potentially with different etiological backgrounds caused by a number of hypothetical pathological mechanisms thought to be important in the genesis of the condition. Search methodology: the review (Oct. - Nov. 2022) is based on a search of PubMed (NLM) using main keyword 'biliary atresia' with supplementary searches using 'fibrosis'; 'inflammation'; 'BASM'; 'genetics'; 'surgery'; 'experimental'; 'etiology'; 'virology'; 'cases'; and 'syndromes.' EXPERT OPINION Future developments will be made on matching clinical variants with a more distinct pathophysiological discrimination and those pathways linking the initial cholestatic phase of biliary atresia to the early stages of fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Davenport
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Kings College Hospital, London, UK
| | - Rania Kronfli
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Kings College Hospital, London, UK
| | - Erica Makin
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Kings College Hospital, London, UK
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Bermick J, Schaller M. Epigenetic regulation of pediatric and neonatal immune responses. Pediatr Res 2022; 91:297-327. [PMID: 34239066 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-021-01630-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation of transcription is a collective term that refers to mechanisms known to regulate gene transcription without changing the underlying DNA sequence. These mechanisms include DNA methylation and histone tail modifications which influence chromatin accessibility, and microRNAs that act through post-transcriptional gene silencing. Epigenetics is known to regulate a variety of biological processes, and the role of epigtenetics in immunity and immune-mediated diseases is becoming increasingly recognized. While DNA methylation is the most widely studied, each of these systems play an important role in the development and maintenance of appropriate immune responses. There is clear evidence that epigenetic mechanisms contribute to developmental stage-specific immune responses in a cell-specific manner. There is also mounting evidence that prenatal exposures alter epigenetic profiles and subsequent immune function in exposed offspring. Early life exposures that are associated with poor long-term health outcomes also appear to impact immune specific epigenetic patterning. Finally, each of these epigenetic mechanisms contribute to the pathogenesis of a wide variety of diseases that manifest during childhood. This review will discuss each of these areas in detail. IMPACT: Epigenetics, including DNA methylation, histone tail modifications, and microRNA expression, dictate immune cell phenotypes. Epigenetics influence immune development and subsequent immune health. Prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal exposures alter immune cell epigenetic profiles and subsequent immune function. Numerous pediatric-onset diseases have an epigenetic component. Several successful strategies for childhood diseases target epigenetic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Bermick
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA. .,Iowa Inflammation Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
| | - Matthew Schaller
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Mohamed SOO, Elhassan ABE, Elkhidir IHE, Ali AH, Elbathani MEH, Abdallah OOA, Ahmed AAM, Ibrahim AAH, Salman MST, Elnil M, Elhassan MA, Abuzied AIH. Detection of Cytomegalovirus Infection in Infants with Biliary Atresia: A Meta-analysis. Avicenna J Med 2021; 12:3-9. [PMID: 35620589 PMCID: PMC9130029 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1739236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives
Biliary atresia (BA) is the most common indication of liver transplantation in children. Several reports attributed BA to both prenatal and perinatal etiologies, including a viral infection-induced autoimmune response that targets the bile ducts.
Cytomegalovirus
(CMV) remains the most common virus being linked to BA. This meta-analysis aimed to estimate to what extent CMV infection is detected in patients with BA.
Methods
This study was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The databases of MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, WHO-Virtual Health Library (VHL), ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar were used for the systematic search. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. Random effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence estimate with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software version 3.3.
Results
A total of 19 studies that fulfilled the eligibility criteria were included in the meta-analysis. The total number of infants with BA was 630 patients, and the pooled overall prevalence of CMV infection among them was 25.4% (95% CI: 15.9%–38.0%). There was high heterogeneity among studies (I
2
= 85.1%,
p
< .001), and subgroup analyses showed significant regional differences (X
2
= 48.9,
p
<.001). Data on the prognosis of CMV-associated BA were scarce and obtainable from few studies that suggested an association between detection of CMV infection and poor prognosis of BA.
Conclusions
The limited available data demonstrates that the rate of detection of CMV infection is high in infants with BA. There is still a need for large studies with appropriate controls for obtaining more reliable results about the various aspects of the association between CMV infection and BA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Almigdad H.M. Ali
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
| | | | | | | | - Abazr A. H. Ibrahim
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
| | | | - Mahmoud Elnil
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Mazin A.M. Elhassan
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
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