Imbalanced apoptosis and proliferation of intrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells in children with biliary atresia

Results: The apoptosis index of bile duct epithelial cells in the 38 BA children (51.74%±19.93%) was significantly higher than that of the 16 normal controls (12.34%±19.32%, P<0.01), whereas no significant difference of cell proliferation index existed between the BA children (19.04%±9.78%) and the normal controls (12.68%±15.56%, P>0.05). Comparison of the apoptosis index with the proliferation index of hepatocytes showed no statistical differences between the BA and the control groups. Within the BA group, the apoptosis index was significantly higher than the proliferation index in bile duct epithelial cells (P<0.01); however, this difference was not found in hepatocytes (P>0.05). Similarly no statistical differences were observed between the indexes of apoptosis and proliferation of the bile duct epithelial cells in the controls (P>0.05).