Mig chemokine in primary biliary cirrhosis.

Different studies investigated about the role of T-helper 1 cytokines and chemokines in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Animal models with autoimmune cholangitis have been used to investigate the involvement of (C-X-C motif) receptor (CXCR)3 and its ligand (C-X-C motif) ligand (CXCL)9/monokine induced by interferon (IFN)-γ (MIG) in the pathogenesis of PBC, suggesting a contribution of MIG in the development of PBC. In patients with PBC, in particular at the level of the portal areas of diseased livers, MIG expression and CXCR3+ cells have been found. MIG is positively associated with the severity of liver fibrosis. In PBC, circulating MIG levels and CXCR3+ cells are related with the progression of the disease; in fact, their expression increases significantly in PBC patients with respect to controls. Furthermore, it has been shown a significant reduction of these chemokines in the serum of PBC patients after treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid.