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Updated: Jun 2, 2026
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Human Liver Microphysiological System for Assessing Drug-Induced Liver Toxicity In Vitro
Published on: January 31, 2022
Review article: Drug-induced liver injury--its pathophysiology and evolving diagnostic tools
1Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics
|May 5, 2011
Summary
Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a major cause of liver failure and a challenge to diagnose. Ongoing research, including genomic studies, aims to clarify its mechanisms and improve understanding.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Toxicology
- Genomics
Background:
- Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, accounting for at least 13% of acute liver failure cases in the US.
- It is a leading cause of acute liver failure in patients awaiting liver transplantation and a common reason for drug development failure.
- The true incidence of DILI may be underestimated due to diagnostic challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current literature on drug-induced liver injury (DILI).
- To focus on the pathophysiology and evolving diagnostic methods for DILI.
- To highlight the role of advanced '-omics' technologies in understanding DILI.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a PubMed literature search.
- Utilized search terms including 'drug induced liver injury', 'pathophysiology', 'causality', 'diagnosis', 'toxicogenomics', and 'pharmacogenetics'.
Main Results:
- Understanding of DILI pathophysiology, classification, and diagnosis is continually evolving.
- Emerging research areas like metabonomics, pharmacogenetics, proteomics, and transcriptomics are advancing DILI research.
- Genomic-based studies are contributing to the understanding of DILI mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- Despite progress, many aspects of DILI pathophysiology and clinical impact require further elucidation.
- Genomic studies represent an evolving frontier in unraveling the underlying mechanisms of drug-induced liver injury.
- Continued research is crucial for improving the diagnosis and management of DILI.
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