4^th World Liver Congress

Liver Inflammation and Immunology

The human liver is perceived as a non-immunological organ which primarily engaged in metabolic, nutrient storage and detoxification activities but it has many unique immunological properties, including induction of immune tolerance, strong innate immunity, poor adaptive immune response versus over-reactive autoimmunity and hematopoiesis in the fetal liver. The healthy liver is a site for immunological activity with a diverse immune cell repertoire as well as non-hematopoietic cell populations. The innate immunity like hepatocytes provides protection against hepatic and systematic bacterial infections. Kupffer cells, also known as stellate macrophages and Kupffer-Browicz cells are specialized macrophages located in the liver, lining the walls of the sinusoids that form part of the mononuclear phagocyte system.

·Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

·Drugs or toxins

·Wilson’s disease and related disorders

·Bacterial Infection

·Bile Duct Obstruction

·Protozoan Infection

·Hepatotoxicity