Abstract

KUPFFER CELL: PATHO-PHYSIOLOGICAL ASPECT IN CHRONIC ALCOHOL LIVER DISEASE

Dr. Udita Singal, Ms. Mamta Singh*, Dr. Pooja Chatley and Dr. Surinder Kumar Aggarwal

ABSTRACT

Alcoholic liver injury involves a complex array of derangements in cellular signalling of hepatic parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells as well as cells of the immune system. Here, we review the literature on the role of one of the non parenchymal cell i.e Kupffer Cells of the liver in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease. In the hepatocyte, chronic ethanol abuse leads to lipid accumulation and liver steatosis. Multiple pathways are affected to promote lipid accumulation in the ethanol-exposed hepatocyte. Chronic ethanol renders Kupffer cells hyper-responsive to endotoxin, which results in production of inflammatory cytokines and the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF α) via a Toll-like receptor 4 dependent pathway, leading to inflammation and hepatic necrosis. Dysfunction of the innate and adaptive immune responses caused by ethanol contributes to impaired anti-viral response, inflammatory injury, and autoimmune activation. Recent developments in the literature are reviewed, and we suggest Kupffer cell’s responses due to influence of alcohol are interwoven the path physiological mechanisms of liver injury in Chronic alcohol liver disease (CALD).

Keywords: Chronic alcohol liver disease (CALD), Tumour necrosis factor-? (TNF ?), Kupffer Cells, endotoxin.