| [ Summary ] |
The liver, which is also known as the lymphoid liver, is an organ that functions as a part of the systemic immune system. The liver is continually exposed to various pathogen‒associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) derived from food and intestinal bacterial flora. These PAMPs flow into the sinusoid and encounter immunocompetent cells, including resident Kupffer cells, lymphocytes, natural killer/natural killer T (NK/NKT) cells, and dendritic cells. In physiological conditions, these immunocompetent cells are responsible for the tolerogenic properties of the liver. Deficits in the immune tolerance for self‒antigens derived from hepatocytes and cholangiocytes cause autoimmune liver diseases, which include autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cholangitis. |