Histamine regulation of biliary proliferation

Cholangiocytes, which line the biliary epithelium, are hormone-responsive and responsible for the modification of canalicular bile before reaching the duodenum. Cholangiocytes are the target cells in cholangiopathies such as primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) that are characterized by cholangiocyte proliferation/loss [1]. The biliary epithelium is morphologically and functionally heterogeneous and is lined by small (<15μm in diameter) and large (>15μm in diameter) cholangiocytes lining small and large bile ducts, respectively [2].