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Updated: Jun 22, 2026
Bile Duct Ligation in Mice: Induction of Inflammatory Liver Injury and Fibrosis by Obstructive Cholestasis
Published on: February 10, 2015
Impact of experimental colitis on hepatobiliary transporter expression and bile duct injury in mice
Jörg Jahnel1, Peter Fickert, Cord Langner
1Laboratory of Experimental and Molecular Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, Graz, Austria.
Background And Aims:
The pathogenetic link between ulcerative colitis and sclerosing cholangitis (SC) is unclear. We hypothesized that colitis induces changes in bile composition via inflammation-induced reduction of hepatobiliary transporter gene expression, ultimately resulting in cholestasis and bile duct injury.
Methods:
Alterations in transporter expression and bile secretion in acute dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis were compared with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mice serving as positive control. Whether chronic DSS-colitis elicits cholangitis in genetically predisposed animals was studied in heterozygous multidrug resistance gene 2 knockout mice (Mdr2(+/-)).
Results:
LPS but not DSS-colitis changed major hepatobiliary transporters (Ntcp, Bsep, Mrp2-4, Ostalpha/beta, Abcg5/8, Oatp1-4, Mdr1b and Mdr2), enzymes (Cyp3a11 and Cyp7a1), nuclear receptors (RXRalpha, FXR, CAR and PXR) and proinflammatory mediators (tumour necrosis factor alpha and inducible nitric oxide synthase). Formation of toxic bile reflected by an increased bile acid/phospholipid ratio was observed neither in acute nor in chronic colitis, although heterozygous Mdr2(+/-) mice developed mild portal inflammation after chronic colitis.
Conclusions:
In contrast to LPS, DSS-colitis has a minor impact on hepatobiliary gene expression and bile secretion. Therefore, intestinal inflammation-associated changes of hepatobiliary transporter expression do not play a pathogenetic role in SC.
