| Theme |
Acute Liver Failure and Regenerative Medicine of the Liver |
| Title |
Mechanisms of Fulminant Hepatitis |
| Author |
Masahito Nagaki |
Department of Gastro enterology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine |
| Author |
Hisataka Moriwaki |
Department of Gastro enterology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] |
Fulminant hepatitis is marked by amassive degree of hepatocyte apoptosis and impaired hepatocyte proliferation. The mechanisms controlling these conditions, however, still remain to be understood. Life or death occurences are associated with events related to regulation of the immune system. Pro- as well as anti-inflammatory mediators have been implicated in multi-organ failure associated with liver damage. Hepatocytes appear to be poorly responsive to pro-apoptotic TNF-alpha stimuli. TNF-alpha, however, induces excessive hepatocyte apoptosis, once cells are sensitized. G-CSF is associated with impaired liver regeneration through the up-regulation of IL-1beta expression. A variety of mechanisms exist to modulate the activity of intracellular mole cules and thereby affect the ultimate outcome of liver cell survival. |