Research progress on factors and mechanisms of apoptosis of bile duct epithelial cells in primary biliary cholangitis.

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronically progressive autoimmune liver disease. At present, There are limited drugs to treat PBC, and some patients eventually progress to end-stage liver disease due to poor response to drugs. The pathogenesis of PBC is not fully understood, but there is increasing evidence that apoptosis of bile duct epithelial cell (BEC) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of PBC. This article reviewed the main factors and related mechanisms affecting BEC apoptosis in PBC, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for developing new therapeutic targets, developing new drugs or proposing new therapeutic schemes for PBC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]