Inhibition of the liver expression of arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase increases the expression of angiogenic factors in cholangiocytes

The intrahepatic biliary ductal system is lined by simple epithelia, cholangiocytes of different size and functions (1-3). In addition to secrete water and electrolytes (4,5), cholangiocytes are the target cells in a number of human biliary disorders such as primary sclerosing cholangitis and primary biliary cirrhosis, diseases that are characterized by an imbalance between biliary growth and loss (2,6,7). Constitutively, normal rodent cholangiocytes have low proliferative activity (8,9), but proliferate or are damaged in response to experimental maneuverers including ligation of the extrahepatic bile duct ligated (BDL) and acute carbon tetrachloride administration (9)