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Liver Immunobiology

Biotechnics, Inc., Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278, USA

Correspondence: Address correspondence to: Dr. George A. Parker, Biotechnics, Inc., 310 Millstone Drive, Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278, USA; e-mail:gparker{at}biotechnics-inc.com

The liver has a number of important functions in innate and adaptive immunity. Contributions to the innate (nonspecific) immune system include production of acute phase proteins, nonspecific phagocytosis of particles, nonspecific pinocytosis of molecules, and nonspecific cell killing. Hepatic involvement in innate immunity contributes to the systemic response to local inflammation, clearance of particles and soluble molecules from the circulation, and killing of invading cells such as neoplastic cells. Liver involvement in the adaptive (specific) immune system includes deletion of activated T cells, induction of tolerance to ingested and self-antigens, extrathymic proliferation of T cells, and deletion of many of the signaling and effector molecules. Hepatic involvement in adaptive immunity allows clearance of activated T cells and signaling molecules following inflammatory reactions, and promotes immunologic tolerance toward potentially antigenic proteins that are absorbed from the intestinal tract. The liver is a major site of extrathymic T cell development, which assumes increasing significance with aging in mammals. Perturbations in hepatic structure or function can result in significant ramifications in both the innate and adaptive immune systems.

Key Words: Liver • hepatic • immunology • toxicology • pathology • kupffor cell • acute phase proteins • phagocytosis • dendritic cells

Abbreviations: APC, Antigen-presenting cell • C3b, iC3b, Complement factor 3b, inactivated complement factor 3b • 1CPI, 1 cysteine proteinase inhibitor • CRP, C-reactive protein • Fas, Cell surface receptor identified as CD95 • FasL, Ligand for Fas • HC, Hepatocyte • ICAM-1, Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 • IFN, Interferon gamma • IgA, Immunoglobulin A • IgG, Immunoglobulin G • IL-1, etc., Interleukin-1, etc. • LAK, Lymphokine-activated killer cells • MHC, Major histocompatibility complex • mRNA, Messenger ribonucleic acid • NK, Natural killer cells • NK1⁺, Natural killer cells expressing the NK1 marker • NK1^–, Natural killer cells that do not express the NK1 marker • NKT, Natural killer cells expressing T cell receptor • RT-PCR, Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction • SEC, Sinusoidal endothelial cell • TCR, T cell receptor • TCRβ, T cell receptor consisting of alpha-beta heterodimer • TCR, T cell receptor consisting of gamma-delta heterodimer • TCR(hi), T cells a high level of T cell receptor • TCR(int), T cells expressing an intermediate level of T cell receptor • Th1, CD4⁺ T cells with cytokine profile that favors cytotoxic effector cells • Th2, CD4⁺: T cells with cytokine profile that favors antibody production • TNF, Tumor necrosis factor alpha • VCAM-1, Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1

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