Nine of the genes with significantly up-regulated expression identified by this study in high-risk disease correspond to candidate genes identified in PBC GWAS studies (HLA-DQ1B, SOCS1, CD80, TNFSF15, HLA-G, HLA-A, HLA-B, IL-18, STAT1) indicating important pathways for further study. This evidence concerns the gene IL18 and primary biliary cholangitis.