Role of complement in ethanol-induced liver injury

The complement cascade is a phylogenetically ancient part of our immune system and is critical to an organism's ability to ward off infection. Interest in a possible role for the complement system in the development of ethanol-induced liver injury was inspired by the large body of data implicating the complement system in the development of acute and chronic inflammatory responses to bacteria/bacterial products, as well as in response to cell injury, both hallmarks of ethanol-induced liver injury. Recent investigations have demonstrated that complement is involved in the pathogenesis of ethanol-induced liver injury. Here we review the available data on the contribution of complement to ethanol-induced liver injury and then discuss the potential mechanisms by which the essential roles of complement in protecting the host from infection and facilitating wound healing may contribute to and/or protect from the pathogenesis of alcohol-induced liver injury.