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The immunopathogenesis of alcoholic and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: two triggers for one disease?

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Abstract

Alcoholic liver disease and nonalcoholic liver disease represent a leading cause of liver disease and share similar pathogenic mechanisms among which activation of the immune system plays a key role. The main events consist in (a) activation of Kupffer cells via TLR-4 by LPS and fatty acids (b) complement activation (c) increased release of proinflammatory mediators (d) alteration in NK and NKT cell number/activity (e) activation of the adaptive immune system. At the same time, activation of intracellular pro-inflammatory pathways by cytokines and bacterial products, inhibit insulin signaling favoring lipogenesis, metabolic alterations, and cell damage.

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Acknowledgements

The work was supported by the following grants: FIRST Università di Milano 2007, 2008 (LV, SF, ALF); Ricerca corrente Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico 2006 and 2008 (LV, SF); and by the Centro per lo Studio delle Malattie del Fegato e del Metabolismo, University of Milan.

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  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Padiglione Granelli, Ospedale Policlinico IRCCS, via F Sforza 35, 20122, Milan, Italy

    Luca Valenti, Anna Ludovica Fracanzani & Silvia Fargion

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  1. Luca Valenti
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  2. Anna Ludovica Fracanzani
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  3. Silvia Fargion
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Correspondence to Silvia Fargion.

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Valenti, L., Ludovica Fracanzani, A. & Fargion, S. The immunopathogenesis of alcoholic and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: two triggers for one disease?. Semin Immunopathol 31, 359–369 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00281-009-0152-9

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