Research advances in animal models of primary biliary cholangitis

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an inflammatory and cholestatic liver disease caused by autoimmune response targeting the small- and medium-sized intrahepatic bile ducts. The most specific manifestations of this diseases in clinical practice were positive anti-mitochondrial antibody and selective destruction of small- and medium-sized bile ducts based on liver histology. Since it is difficult to obtain the clinical samples of early-stage PBC, the construction and optimization of mouse models is an important method to investigate the pathogenesis of PBC. An understanding of the modeling principles of PBC animal models and disease features in serology, histology, and cytology not only helps to improve the awareness of PBC, but also helps to design scientific and rational research protocols