Immunohistochemical study of aberrant expression of HLA-DR antigen on interlobular bile ducts in asymptomatic primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC): A comparative study between asymptomatic PBC cases showing normal and elevated serum ALP values

Abstract

Immunohistochemical expressions of HLA-DR antigen on the interlobular bile duct epithelium, degree of inflammation around the bile ducts, and bile duct damage were studied in asymptomatic PBC cases showing normal (early PBC; ePBC) and elevated (asymptomatic PBC; aPBC) serum ALP values. There was no significant difference in degrees of periductal inflammation and bile duct damage between both groups, but the immunohistochemical expression of HLA-DR antigen on interlobular bile ducts was found to be significantly lower in the ePBC group as compared to those in the aPBC group. These results indicate that aberrant expressions of HLA-DR antigen occur in the course of bile ducts damage and may be related to the progression and continuation of bile duct destruction.