Bile duct ligation (BDL) mouse model

The standard partial common bile duct ligation was performed as we described previously (23). Briefly, cystic duct and the common bile duct were ligated using 7-0 nylon. Sham mice underwent similar laparotomy without BDL. At the end, the abdomen was closed by a 6-0 double-layer suture, and the mice were allowed to wake up on a heating pad. After 3 or 14 days, serum and bile were collected and liver tissues were harvested for isolation of primary cholangiocytes or processed for quantitative real-time RT-PCR, Western blot analysis, histology and immunohistochemistry analysis.