In this review, we have emphasized the importance of cholangiocytes in
biology and pathology and highlighted recent advances in experimental
approaches to study these increasingly important cells. It is anticip
ated that major advances will continue to be made in our understanding
of how these cells funciton and the processes which result in their d
ysfunction. The techniques are now available to allow major inroads in
our understanding of the pathobiology of cholangiocytes.