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World J Gastroenterol. May 28, 2011; 17(20): 2543-2551
Published online May 28, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i20.2543
Hepatic stellate cells and innate immunity in alcoholic liver disease
Yang-Gun Suh, Won-Il Jeong
Yang-Gun Suh, Won-Il Jeong, Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 305-701, South Korea
Author contributions: Suh YG and Jeong WI contributed equally to the writing of the manuscript.
Supported by A grant of the Korea Healthcare Technology R&D Project, Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs, South Korea (A090183)
Correspondence to: Won-Il Jeong, DVM, PhD, Professor of Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 373-1 Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-701, South Korea. wijeong@kaist.ac.kr
Telephone: +82-42-3504239 Fax: +82-42-3504240
Received: January 7, 2011
Revised: February 25, 2011
Accepted: March 4, 2011
Published online: May 28, 2011
Abstract

Constant alcohol consumption is a major cause of chronic liver disease, and there has been a growing concern regarding the increased mortality rates worldwide. Alcoholic liver diseases (ALDs) range from mild to more severe conditions, such as steatosis, steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The liver is enriched with innate immune cells (e.g. natural killer cells and Kupffer cells) and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), and interestingly, emerging evidence suggests that innate immunity contributes to the development of ALDs (e.g. steatohepatitis and liver fibrosis). Indeed, HSCs play a crucial role in alcoholic steatosis via production of endocannabinoid and retinol metabolites. This review describes the roles of the innate immunity and HSCs in the pathogenesis of ALDs, and suggests therapeutic targets and strategies to assist in the reduction of ALD.

Keywords: Alcoholic liver disease; Hepatic stellate cell; Natural killer cell; Kupffer cell; Endocannabinoid; Steatosis; Steatohepatitis; Fibrosis