Hemopoietic progenitor cells and bone marrow stromal cells in patients with autoimmune hepatitis type 1 and primary biliary cirrhosis

Background/Aims: Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been used in severe cases of autoimmunity. We investigated whether hemopoietic progenitor cells and/or bone marrow (BM) microenvironment are affected in autoimmune hepatitis type-1 (AIH-1) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Methods: We studied 13 AIH-1 patients, 13 PBC patients, 12 cirrhotic controls (CC) and ten healthy controls (HC). Flow cytometry, expansion cultures, long-term BM cultures and clonogenic progenitor cell assays were used. Stromal cell function was assessed in long-term BM cultures recharged with normal CD34+ cells. Results: AIH-1 had increased CD34+, CD34+/CD38+ and CD34+/CD38− cells compared to all groups ( P