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Advances in alcoholic liver disease

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Abstract

Cytokines are mediators of cellular communication produced by multiple liver cell types. Cytokines can directly induce either necrosis or apoptosis. They can also recruit such cells as neutrophils and lymphocytes, which can mediate liver damage. Increased levels of hepatotoxic cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-’are documented in alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and have been shown to play a mechanistic role in both of these disease processes. Transforming growth factor-βs a profibrotic cytokine that is critical in hepatic fibrosis. Beneficial cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-10 and-6, also exist. Such beneficial cytokines as adiponectin are made outside the liver and appear to protect against ALD and NASH. This article reviews the relevance of cytokines in human and experimental forms of liver injury, focusing on modulation of cytokines and the use of beneficial cytokines in treatment and prevention of liver injury in ALD, NASH, and hepatitis C.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Louisville Medical Center, 550 South Jackson Street, ACB 3rd floor, 40292, Louisville, KY, USA

    Zhenyuan Song PhD, Swati Joshi-Barve PhD, Shrish Barve PhD & Craig J. McClain MD

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  1. Zhenyuan Song PhD
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  2. Swati Joshi-Barve PhD
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  3. Shrish Barve PhD
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  4. Craig J. McClain MD
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Song, Z., Joshi-Barve, S., Barve, S. et al. Advances in alcoholic liver disease. Curr Gastroenterol Rep 6, 71–76 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11894-004-0029-y

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