Increased expression of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator in rat liver after common bile duct ligation.

Liver disease associated with cystic fibrosis (CF) has been increasingly diagnosed and recognized as one of the major causes of death in CF during recent years. The autosomal-recessive disorder of CF results from mutation of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) that encodes the CFTR protein. Due to its existence and multifunction in biliary epithelial, over- or less-expression of CFTR in the liver may play an important role in the development of CF liver disease (CFLD). The aim of current study is to investigate the expression of CFTR in the liver of common bile duct ligated (BDL) rats. After BDL, there was an increase in the abundance of CFTR mRNA and protein. Immunohistochemical staining also demonstrated an increased intensity of CFTR staining in the liver tissue section. In conclusion, there is an increased expression of CFTR in the liver after common BDL. Copyright 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.