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Cytokines in alcoholic liver disease
C J McClain1, S Barve, I Deaciuc
1Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington 40536-0084, USA.
Seminars in Liver Disease
|July 28, 1999
Summary
Cytokines contribute to alcoholic liver disease (ALD) by causing cell death. Anticytokine therapy shows promise for treating ALD by blocking harmful cytokine effects and preserving beneficial ones.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Cytokines are crucial cell communicators in the liver, with Kupffer cells being vital.
- Inflammatory and acute-phase cytokines influence metabolic complications and injury in alcoholic liver disease (ALD).
- Endotoxin and reactive oxygen species may trigger cytokine production in ALD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of cytokines in alcoholic liver disease (ALD) pathogenesis.
- To evaluate the potential of anticytokine therapy for ALD treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on cytokine involvement in ALD.
- Analysis of anticytokine therapy efficacy in toxin-induced liver injury models and human diseases.
Main Results:
- Cytotoxic cytokines contribute to necrosis and apoptosis in ALD.
- Anticytokine therapy effectively reduces cell injury in experimental ALD models.
- Anticytokine therapies are successful in human inflammatory conditions like Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
Conclusions:
- Cytokines play a dual role in ALD, with both beneficial and detrimental effects.
- Anticytokine therapy presents a promising strategy for managing ALD by targeting harmful cytokine actions.
- Further research is warranted to optimize anticytokine therapy for ALD patients.
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