Cell cultures of bile duct epithelium and the pathogenesis of biliary atresia.

The pathogenesis of biliary atresia is unknown. The authors describe a technique for culturing extrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells of human and bovine origin in monolayer cell cultures. Light-, electron microscopy and immunohistological studies prove the epithelial nature of the cultured cells. Inoculation of the cells with reovirus 3 showed no destruction; adenovirus 6, herpes simplex and polio virus 1 and 2 destroyed the cells within 24 h. The cells produce a growth factor maintaining the integrity of the cells, even in the absence of serum.