title: Hepatocytes as Immunological Agents.
abstract: Hepatocytes are targeted for infection by a number of major human pathogens, including hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and malaria. However, hepatocytes are also immunological agents in their own right. In systemic immunity, they are central in the acute-phase response, which floods the circulation with defensive proteins during diverse stresses, including ischemia, physical trauma, and sepsis. Hepatocytes express a variety of innate immune receptors and, when challenged with pathogen- or damage-associated molecular patterns, can deliver cell-autonomous innate immune responses that may result in host defense or in immunopathology. Important human pathogens have evolved mechanisms to subvert these responses. Finally, hepatocytes talk directly to T cells, resulting in a bias toward immune tolerance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 crispen@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Ian N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Crispe
mesh_terms: D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic