| Theme |
Gastrointestinal Diseases and Cytokines : Pathophysiological Control |
| Title |
Roles of Cytokines in ASH and NASH |
| Author |
Nobuyuki Enomoto |
Department of Gastroenterology, Juntendo University School of Medicine |
| Author |
Yoshiyuki Takei |
Department of Gastroenterology, Juntendo University School of Medicine |
| Author |
Nobuhiro Sato |
Department of Gastroenterology, Juntendo University School of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] |
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease observed in the clinical practice of hepatology. The natural history of NAFLD involves progression from steatosis to steatohepatitis (NASH) and finally cirrhosis. While the pathologic process involved in the development of cirrhosis is similar to alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH), the precise mechanisms of NASH are not clearly known. It is however, postulated that a second "hit" such as LPS, leptin and TNF-α is necessary for progression of NASH. In this article, we review the current concept of Kupffer cell-mediated alcoholic liver injury and new strategies to elucidate the pathophysiology of NASH. |