IL-12p40 is required for 2OA-BSA-induced cholangitis.

<p>(A) H&amp;E staining of representative liver from WT, IL-12p40^−/− (p40^−/−), IL-23^−/− (p19^−/−) and IL-12p35^−/− (p35^−/−) mice 8 weeks after 2OA-BSA immunization. Portal inflammatory changes with interlobular bile duct damage (red arrow) were observed in the liver of WT, p19^−/− and p35^−/− mice but not p40^−/− mice; normal bile ducts in p40^−/− mice (blue arrow). (B) Portal inflammation and bile duct damage were examined in individual animals. The pathological score of portal inflammation and biliary cell damage were evaluated in WT (n = 17), p19^−/− (n = 14), p35^−/− (n = 3) and p40^−/− (n = 5) mice. *p&lt;0.05, **p&lt;0.01, ***p&lt;0.001. (C) Immunohistochemical analysis of the liver of WT mice and IL-23p19^−/− mice at 8 weeks after 2OA-BSA immunization using mAbs to CD4 and CD8.