Integrin beta-8, But Not beta-5 or-6, Protein Expression Is Increased in Livers of Children With Biliary Atresia

摘要

Objectives: Our previous work demonstrated altered messenger RNA expression of integrin beta-5 and -8, using an in silico analysis of publically available data from patients with biliary atresia (BA); however, we were unable to demonstrate statistically significant differences in protein expression because of sample size. In the present study, we repeated the analysis of liver fibrosis and protein expression of the integrins in a larger cohort of patients with BA and compared them with patients undergoing liver biopsy for other diagnoses, with the hypothesis that >= 1 of the integrins would be differentially expressed.