Analysis of Biliary Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Portal Tract Fibrogenesis in Biliary Atresia

Background The cellular origin of myofibroblast in the liver fibrosis remains unclear. This study was designed to investigate whether biliary epithelial cells (BECs) undergoing epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) might be found in patients with biliary atresia, thereby serving as a source of fibrotic myofibroblasts.