Affiliations: Institute of Liver Studies, King's College London
School of Medicine at King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill Campus, London,
UK | The Sheila Sherlock Liver Centre, and University
Department of Surgery, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
Note: [] Corresponding author: Professor Andrew K. Burroughs, The Sheila
Sherlock Liver Centre, and University Department of Surgery, Royal Free
Hospital, Pond Street, Hampstead, NW3 2QG London, UK. Fax: +44 02074726226;
E-mail: Andrew.Burroughs@royalfree.nhs.uk
Abstract: Among various infectious agents possibly involved in the
pathogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), Escherichia Coli (E. coli)
has received special attention because of epidemiological and
experimental evidence linking this bacterium with the disease's development.
This review discusses early and more recent epidemiological studies associating
recurrent urinary tract infections with E. coli and the development of
PBC. We also critically review data provided over the years demonstrating
disease-specific humoral and cellular immune responses against E. coli
antigens in patients with PBC. Finally, we assess the relevance of experimental
findings reporting cross-reactive immunity between mimicking sequences of
E. coli and the major PBC mitochondrial antigens in the pathogenesis of the
PBC. We also address the extent to which molecular mimicry and immunological
cross-reactivity can be considered as a critical pathogenic process linking
infection with self destruction.
