Translational Research in Biliary Atresia: News from Mice and Men

Biliary atresia (BA) is a fibro-obliterative cholangiopathy of unknown etiology. While Kasai portoenterostomy achieves temporary biliary drainage in some cases, BA remains the most common indication for liver transplantation during childhood. During the last few decades, observations on BA, like cholestatic diseases in animals and the introduction of different animal models for BA, have not achieved the anticipated results, and we are still not able to translate the basic research to the patient's bedside. This article presents a review of the literature on available BA animal models and gives a glimpse of future developments.