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Innate Immune Mechanisms in the Liver

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Liver Immunology

Abstract

Having been ignored by immunologists for years, the liver is now known to be a site of complex immune activity and to play a key role in some of the most important pathologies, including septicemia, metastases, and hepatotropic infections. Even in its healthy state, the liver is presented with an intricate combination of immunological challenges for which it is surprisingly well equipped. These challenges include massive antigenic loads of harmless dietary and commensal products borne by the portal tract, which must be immunologically tolerated, but which may be laced with pathogens or toxins, requiring a swift response. Its blood supply of approx 1.5 L per minute ensures that the liver is the organ most frequently exposed to blood-borne metastatic stimuli, while products of hepatic metabolism may be carcinogenic. The liver immune system must therefore provide protection against pathogens, transformed liver cells, and metastasic cells while at the same time tolerating harmless self and foreign antigens.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Education and Research Centre, St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Cliona O’Farrelly PhD

  2. Institute of Immunology and Department of Biology, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland

    Derek G. Doherty PhD

Authors
  1. Cliona O’Farrelly PhD
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  2. Derek G. Doherty PhD
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California at Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA

    M. Eric Gershwin MD, FACP

  2. Departments of Medicine and Surgery Baylor Liver Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

    John M. Vierling MD, FACP

  3. Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Endocrinology, Medical School of Hannover, Hannover, Germany

    Michael P. Manns MD

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© 2007 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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O’Farrelly, C., Doherty, D.G. (2007). Innate Immune Mechanisms in the Liver. In: Gershwin, M.E., Vierling, J.M., Manns, M.P. (eds) Liver Immunology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-518-3_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-518-3_4

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-818-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-518-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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