Primary Culture of Cholangiocytes from Normal Mouse Liver

Cholangiocytes have been thought to play a role as antigen presenting cells or target cells in immune-mediated cholangitis. The aberrant expression of MHC class II proteins on cholangiocytes in primary biliary cirrhosis raises the possibility that cholangiocytes can function as antigen presenting cells and, in immune-mediated cholangitis, cholangiocytes appeared to be targeted by lymphocytes (8). To explore the immune mechanisms underlying cholangitis, a culture of mouse cholangiocytes is essential, because the mouse is indispensable for immunological study.