Alcoholic liver disease: new insights into mechanisms and preventative strategies.
Alcoholic liver disease has a known aetiology but a complex pathogenesis. It is an extremely common disease with a high mortality, but the reason why only a relatively small proportion of heavy drinkers progress to advanced disease remains elusive. Accumulating evidence points towards an elaborate interplay between metabolism, inflammation and immunity in the development of steatosis, hepatitis and fibrosis. These complex pathways leading to liver injury offer many potential susceptibility loci, as well as sites for potential therapeutic intervention.
Stewart
S
S
Centre for Liver Research, Dept of Medicine, The Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK NE2 4HH.
Jones
D
D
Day
C P
CP
D017209:Apoptosis; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism; D005235:Fatty Liver, Alcoholic / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008954:Models, Biological; D018384:Oxidative Stress
D004731:Endotoxins; D000431:Ethanol