Liver, alcohol and gender.
Gender differences in alcohol-induced liver injury have been well described. Females develop alcoholic liver injury more rapidly and have a lower alcohol toxic threshold than men. The mechanism for this difference is poorly characterized, differences in first-pass metabolism in the stomach, or elimination rate, or alcohol distribution volume in the body have been suggested. In addition, estrogen has a major influence on the susceptibility of Kupffer cells to gut-derived LPS resulting in increased proinflammatory cytokine production, which could be a major contributing factor to the increased risk of women to alcohol-induced liver disease.
Müller
Christian
C
Department of Internal Medicine IV, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. christian.j.mueller@meduniwien.ac.at
D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004967:Estrogens / Q000502:physiology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D016207:Cytokines; D004967:Estrogens; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D000431:Ethanol