Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transitions of Bile Duct Epithelial Cells in Primary Hepatolithiasis

The purpose of this study was to explore the role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in the pathogenesis of hepatolithiasis. Thirty-one patients with primary hepatolithiasis were enrolled in this study. Expressions of E-cadherin, α-catenin, α-SMA, vimentin, S100A4, TGF-β1 and P-smad2/3 in hepatolithiasis bile duct epithelial cells were examined by immunohistochemistry staining. The results showed that the expressions of the epithelial markers E-cadherin and α-catenin were frequently lost in hepatolithiasis (32.3% and 25.9% of cases, respectively), while the mesenchymal markers vimentin, α-SMA and S100A4 were found to be present in hepatolithiasis (35.5%, 29.0%, and 32.3% of cases, respectively). The increased mesenchymal marker expression was correlated with decreased epithelial marker expression. The expressions of TGF-β1 and P-smad2/3 in hepatolithiasis were correlated with the expression of S100A4. These data indicate that TGF-β1-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition might be involved in the formation of hepatolithiasis.