Losing balance: cytokine signaling and cell death in the context of hepatocyte injury and hepatic failure.
Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) represents a clinical scenario that is associated with high morbidity and mortality, and very limited treatment options. Therefore, great efforts have been made recently on defining its biological mechanisms. This article gives an overview of the cellular processes that are linked to the loss of hepatocytes as a reaction to various agents that cause hepatic failure, and summarizes recent results from clinical and experimental studies of the role of pro- and antiapoptotic cytokines and their intracellular signaling in this context.
Luedde
Tom
T
Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, Germany.
Liedtke
Christian
C
Manns
Michael P
MP
Trautwein
Christian
C
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D003574:Cytochrome c Group / Q000502:physiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000502:physiology; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D009336:Necrosis; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology
D003574:Cytochrome c Group; D016207:Cytokines; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha