UMMS Affiliation
Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology
Date
3-20-2010
Document Type
Article
Medical Subject Headings
Liver Diseases, Alcoholic; Lipopolysaccharides; Toll-Like Receptor 4; Kupffer Cells; Permeability
Disciplines
Gastroenterology
Abstract
Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is one of the leading causes of liver diseases and liver-related death worldwide. Of the many factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of ALD, gut-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plays a central role in induction of steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis in the liver. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms by which alcohol contributes to increased gut permeability, the activation of Kupffer cells, and the inflammatory cascade by LPS. The role of the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) complex in LPS recognition and the importance of the TLR4-induced signaling pathways are evaluated in ALD.
Rights and Permissions
Citation: World J Gastroenterol. 2010 Mar 21;16(11):1321-9. Link to article on publisher's website