Volume 31, Number 3, 359-369, DOI: 10.1007/s00281-009-0152-9

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

Luca Valenti, Anna Ludovica Fracanzani and Silvia Fargion

From the issue entitled "The Lymphoid Liver / Guest Edited by Carlo Selmi, Mauro Podda and M. Eric Gershwin"

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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.

Keywords  Cytokine - Insulin resistance - Inflammation - Kupffer cell - Steatosis

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