The Immune Response in the Pathogenesis of Alcoholic Liver Disease

  • Lynell W. Klassen
  • Geoffrey M. Thiele
Chapter

Abstract

Many hypotheses have been put forward to explain ethanolinduced liver damage, including direct and indirect toxicity. Despite many years of intensive research, the molecular mechanisms involved in the toxicity of this simple compound have still not been fully clarified. Initial studies investigated the direct toxic effects of ethanol on tissues, but it is now believed that the products of ethanol metabolism are the major factors causing alcoholic liver disease (ALD). The metabolic products and metabolic events induced by alcohol ingestion are varied in nature and vast in scope. Major research interest has focused on the effects of aldehyde production, oxygen radical formation, mitochondrial membrane permeability defects, endotoxins, and infectious agents as factors in hepatocellular dysfunction and cell death. At the same time, increasing evidence suggests that immune-mediated mechanisms are involved in ALD.

Keywords

Liver Injury Kupffer Cell Alcoholic Liver Disease Alcoholic Hepatitis Protein Adduct 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ 2007

Authors and Affiliations

  • Lynell W. Klassen
    • 1
    • 2
  • Geoffrey M. Thiele
    • 3
    • 4
  1. 1.Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterUSA
  2. 2.Medical Service PhysicianOmaha VA Medical CenterOmaha
  3. 3.Internal MedicineUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterUSA
  4. 4.Research ServiceOmaha VA Medical CenterOmaha

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